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4 ‘Must Have’ Attributes of an Event Manager

Rather than falling into event management like the crazy ‘ol days, people are preferring to become skilled up before seeking employment. This is a good thing, as the industry needs well trained people to run successful and safe events. So if you’re thinking of studying event management it’s important to know if that particular career path is for you. Particularly before committing to study or employment. We’re here to help.

Here are our top 4 ‘must-have’ attributes that every event manager should have. We’re not suggesting you have to possess all attributes in massive doses, just a little bit of most. How many boxes do you tick?

1. Organised bordering on obsession

This is a biggy. The successful execution of an event requires considerable multi-tasking skills which means being organised is key. And while the devil is in the detail and the bigger the event the more complex, it’s an important skill to be able to see the big picture too. So how do you know if you’re organised or not? Would you make a check list for a simple dinner party for friends (and stick to it)? Is prioritising important to you? Do you start planning way ahead of time rather than at the last minute? Are you often dreaming of events that you would like to run one day? If you’ve answered yes to most of these questions, you can safely tick the YES box.

2. People Person with great communication skills

Event managers have to communicate consistently with all types; from suppliers to ground staff, from entertainers to executives, from attendees to police and everybody in between. Each have their own unique language and you’ll have to speak it. For example, no one will ask you to hop up on to a ladder and rig up the lighting but you’ll certainly have to direct the lighting technician using the appropriate industry jargon. As you can imagine, communication of this sort can be crucial to the success of an event and it’s as much about listening as it is about talking. If you relish the thought of getting to speak to everyone in your team to make sure they’re doing what they’re supposed to be doing, then you can tick that YES box too.

3. Creative Problem Solver

Even the best laid plans can run into trouble due to unexpected factors. In a situation like that, a great event manager has to take charge, get creative and fix whatever needs to be fixed. Here are some of the most dreaded problems faced by event managers;

  1. No one shows up at your event
  2. Too many people show up at your event (not quite as drastic as #1)
  3. Your speaker/entertainer doesn’t show
  4. Your venue is double booked
  5. The weather
  6. Audio visual problems

Think back to a time when something didn’t go right for you. How did you handle it? Did you stay around and fix the problem to the best of your ability while keeping your cool? Or did you run the other way? If you stayed around… good for you. You’re on the way to becoming a great event manager.

4. YES person willing to go the extra mile

We have a lot of students going out into the field to experience events first hand. Nearly all do what is required of them; they show up on time, they do the task that they’re given and then they go home. So why do some stand out more than others? It’s all about going the extra mile. Those people get noticed every time. Why? They’ve shown initiative by suggesting how something could be done better. They’ve stayed a bit later than their allocated shift to ensure that everything has been taken care of before they go home for the day. They’ve actively participated in every task given with great energy and positivity. They’re vibrant and energetic. They look like they’re really loving what they’re doing because they probably are.

If you know that you’re willing to do extra, your last YES box is ticked!
And if you’ve ticked 3 out of 4 ‘Must Have’ attributes you can confidently assume that you will make a good, if not great, event professional. 


College of Event Management offers a range of specialised online event courses. Contact us for more information about the right course to equip you with the knowledge and practical experience to work as an event professional. 

*Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

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