Executive Assistants are master meeting planners. So it makes sense that they’re frequently asked to organize offsites and other in-person meetings, alongside their other responsibilities. If you’re an Executive Assistant tasked with planning an offsite, there is one thing you have to accept: You will make a mistake.
This has nothing to do with how skilled or experienced you are.
Mistakes are common when planning offsites, or any large in-person meeting, because there are a lot of moving parts that you have to juggle. From travel and hotel accommodations to arranging group meals and team building activities, the list goes on and on, and with it, the potential for mistakes grows. Some mistakes you’ll be able to solve before anyone even notices there was an issue. Others aren’t so easy to catch.
One of the best ways to avoid mistakes is to anticipate what could go wrong and plan accordingly. So … How do you plan an effective offsite meeting? Keep reading to learn about the common mistakes meeting planners make when planning offsites and how you can avoid them.
Believe it or not, effective communication has a ripple effect on human behavior and employee engagement. This applies to offsite attendees as well! Clear communication with your offsite attendees is essential to the success of an offsite. Your communications should clearly state the purpose, objectives, and agenda of the offsite in addition to important logistical details.
Clear and precise communication also helps minimize confusion and misunderstandings, translating to fewer redundant questions and unexpected problems that you have to handle. There are multiple communication milestones — from sending out initial “hold the date” messages to reminding attendees to share their travel itineraries or share their agenda materials — throughout the offsite planning process, so be sure to track which communications you have and have not sent. Use an offsite meeting checklist to schedule communications in a way that aligns with the timeline leading up to the offsite. Using the right tools often helps alleviate your to-do list.
Transparent and timely communication also promotes collaboration and teamwork among participants, building trust between team members and leadership. This trust will help foster a collaborative environment where team members feel comfortable sharing information, exchanging ideas, and providing constructive feedback.
Executive Assistants are some of the most talented professional communicators around. By channeling your expertise, you’ll minimize confusion, improve team dynamics, and provide attendees with a great offsite experience.
Failing to ask attendees for feedback is one of the most common mistakes that offsite planners make. Attendee feedback is important when planning an offsite for a myriad of reasons, from logistical details to evaluating the success of the offsite. You might be thinking, “I don’t have time to ask, and sometimes, people have too many ideas about where or when to have an offsite.” It’s ultimately up to you and the other organizers to decide whether or not to incorporate their responses.
However, by inviting team members to give feedback during the planning process, you will improve attendee engagement and buy-in during the offsite. When employees feel their opinions are valued and considered, they are more likely to actively participate and contribute during the event.
Collecting attendee feedback also allows you to tailor the offsite to your team’s unique dynamic, leading to a more beneficial meeting. You’re likely already planning to send a survey to your attendees asking about their dietary preferences or specific accommodations. Expand that survey to include their preferences for evening activities, icebreakers, and anything else you can think of. This will make planning easier for you while also building a positive team and company culture.
Post-meeting feedback matters too! Be sure to also send a survey to offsite attendees afterward so that you know what went well and what could be improved for the next offsite. Not only will this help you grow your skills as an event planner and professional, it can also provide valuable proof points about what attendees learned or gained from the meeting that can be shared as examples of why meeting in person matters.