Society’s views of work and the relationship between employer and employee have changed drastically since Dolly Parton sang about working “9 to 5” in 1980. (As a Nashville resident, I’m obliged to acknowledge our Queen at least once in every article I write.)
Since then, terms like “work-life balance” and “company culture” have become important ideas that have reshaped the American workforce. After all, there’s a good reason why 67 percent of recruiters consider cultural fit to be an important factor when hiring, and why 70 percent of professionals in the U.S. would not work at a leading company if it meant they had to tolerate bad workplace culture.
What traits come to your mind when you think about a positive organizational culture? Here are just a few of the important elements that, I believe, every good company culture has:
- A clear mission
- Goals … and plans to achieve those goals
- Mutual trust and respect between employer and employee
- A safe and supportive environment
- Transparent and honest communication
It’s important for job seekers not to overlook company culture when searching for a place of employment, just as it is important for companies to keep their cultures in mind when adding new employees.
And when it comes to hiring an event team to produce and manage the type of events that will help your business thrive, you should never overlook how the team fits in with your organization’s culture. Here’s why:
Your Event Management Team Should Get a Seat at the Table
I believe it is impossible for a team to organize and produce a successful event for a client without knowing several important details about the business. Those details include the objectives of the event, the strategic goals the client wants to accomplish with the event, who will be attending, etc.
And the best way for an event team to get up to speed quickly on these key elements is for them to have a seat at the table from the beginning. That means participating in early planning discussions and serving in a capacity where the event team will have direct access with the client and the business.
That’s why it’s paramount to work with someone that understands and fits in with your company culture. This will ensure smooth proceedings in the early planning phases and provide the event management team the perspective it needs to plan a successful event.
Your Event Management Team Is an Extension of Your Business
Whether the event team is set up in the office or working at a venue, talking to your staff or negotiating with vendors, the team will be viewed as part of your company—all the more reason to ensure the event team is aligned properly with your company culture.
If the event team conducts themselves in a way that represents your company in a way to disagree with, you risk sending a negative message to your staff, vendors, event attendees, etc., in addition to levying negative consequences on business relationships.
MICE Events Strengthen Your Company Culture
There are many benefits to meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) events, like supporting local economies, generating sales, increasing revenue, boosting morale, and many more. These events, in all their various forms, can also work wonders on a company’s culture.
That’s why it’s crucial to ensure the event management team helping you plan these events is fully aligned with your company culture. Otherwise, you may leave money on the table and not realize the full culture-building benefits of MICE events.
U.S. companies lose between $450-$550 billion each year due to disengaged workers. MICE events combat disengagement by offering tremendous opportunities to increase engagement and interest among workers.
For example, meetings present great opportunities for intimate, personal engagement between a business and its clients that often lead to workers feeling like a bigger part of their company’s mission.
Also, a good incentive travel program can increase sales productivity by 18 percent and produce an ROI of up to 112 percent. Many companies use incentive travel to recognize productivity and reward employees, which has an overwhelmingly positive effect on company culture.
At Evolution Event Solutions, the organizational culture of our clients is at the heart of everything we do. From the initial consultation, we work to understand every possible detail about our clients, which helps us create and produce events that are the best possible representation of them.
You should demand nothing less for your business.
