How can you stay motivated when working with a team in Live Events?

In my experience, establishing clear and measurable team goals creates a shared vision that everyone can strive towards. Regularly revisiting these objectives and acknowledging milestones reached provides the team with a sense of progress and purpose. This shared sense of purpose becomes a driving force, encouraging team members to stay motivated as they witness the tangible impact of their collaborative efforts.

Not only do we want to set clear and realistic goals for ourselves, but in order to stay motivated, we need that “hype man!” One who exudes positivity, motivation, encouragement and more. Doing live events is hard work. There will be days when you may feel overwhelmed and stressed, so coming together as a team on a weekly basis to see how each person is coming along with their assigned goals, seeing if more help is needed and very importantly, checking to see how each person is doing mentally keeps the team motivated. You would be amazed how that “hype man” can change negative emotions into positive ones.

Clear open communication is key. As a leader you are demonstrating the values and behaviours that you want to see in your team. If you want them to be open and forthcoming with you, you need to model that. Be open, be honest, be clear and you will get that back. Ask for those things without demonstrating them yourself, and you won't. Respect is gained much the same way. Position and reputation will gain you respect for a time, but before long you have to earn it like everyone else. However, if you show care and respect to your team, demonstrate the courage to show up, be present and listen, as well as instruct… then you'll hold onto the respect that was loaned to you in the first instance.

Make sure you and your team know the work that needs to be done, and ensure that it is clearly and appropriately delegated. Too often managers pass the problem down... they know something is beyond the team's capacity so they make that someone else's problem. When a manager is open, honest and goal oriented in this situation they can get a team behind the task of achieving the (once thought to be) impossible. But to achieve that, you have to bring people with you, not leave them behind. Maintaining trust within the team enables collaboration, and effective delegation. Honesty, openness and approachability brings huge uplift to motivation, and therefore capacity.

Get the basics right. Sustenance for the body (food, drink etc) Sustenance for the mind (rest, breaks etc) Sustenance for the Soul (knowing that people around them care) At the coal face of an event it is so easy for a team to become stretched, and under huge amounts of pressure. As team lead at an event, the team under you are a huge part of your job on the day, and it is your responsibility to - along with them, they are adults - to ensure that their energies and motivation are sustained across the event.

Always assume that you have something to learn from everyone you work with. Because you absolutely do. Ask questions, get people's perspectives, allow people to approach things their way whenever appropriate - I once got great advice on managing a creative team 'whenever your idea and someone else's on your team are about equally good - particularly if it's something that they have to action - go with their idea'. There are things to learn from everyone on your team, and extracting that learning is hugely worthwhile for you, as well as helping make your team feel valued, respected and seen.

When hiring for live events, please consider this. Hire those with no experience but are eager to learn and grow in this industry. These aspiring professionals are ready to understand what it's like to work and get their hands dirty. They are looking for any chance they get. No matter what task you give them, they will ensure they do it to the best of their ability because they want to come back and do it again. I also assure you that the spark they felt working their first show will never die out, I don't care what anyone says. This next generation will not become jaded working Live Events. So let's give them a chance and allow them to start their career. And you can be the one to say you mentored them through their first gig!

How to stay motivated when producing a live event? Think WE not ME. WE (the team) are here to serve THEM (the public/attendees/audience). Take care of & support each other so that as a collective, WE can provide those here to receive.. with a unique uplifting, valuable, memorable experience. Eg: When I’m on stage presenting an event, it’s really the whole team on stage with me. It truly is. I can only do my part because of them. There’s an incredible vibe created when a team is united in PURPOSE. It’s palpable. The audience can FEEL that vibe of connection & oneness.. IF it’s GENUINELY there within the team. They’ll sense if the team appreciates each other & each moment. When it comes to live events, as in life.. AUTHENTICITY = MAGIC🪄💫