Provides Many Advantages | By Zakiya Smith-Dore UNIVERSITIES:
“You get what you give.” As leaders, we’ve all heard this phrase, or some variation of it, countless times. However, what are we giving? What are we trying to receive? As a young professional, it is common to seek the advice of ex- perts on how to enhance your career and personal development. Some will tell you the key to becoming a great leader is to simply “ask questions,” some will advise you to mentor other young lead- ers, while some will encourage you to pursue higher education. While these suggestions will aid in your growth, the one piece of advice that has helped me most is to get and stay involved. A mentor once encouraged me to get involved in at least one organi- zation locally, one at the state level, and one internationally. With countless ways to get involved at all levels, the options to mature through active engagement are limitless!
Where to Begin… There are many recipes to the “secret sauce” of excelling in
leadership, but you have to find which combination of ingredients work best for your tastes as an individual. IAVM is one of the best places to begin your involvement in the venue world. IAVM encompasses numerous committees, boards, service projects, and education opportunities, which help make the organization as a whole thrive. Serving within IAVM allows you to develop rela- tionships with industry professionals from various walks of life, venue type, and experience levels.
Serving specifically on committees is a fundamental way to in-
crease your knowledge of planning large scale events beyond your venue type. Committees, such as the University Committee, bring together individuals with similar interests to achieve a common goal. Working with teams that help develop the programming of events like VenueConnect instills a sense of pride as you are help- ing move the organization forward with innovative discussions and studies. Having the network of the international connections you will acquire while serving within IAVM is invaluable as these leaders are your personal connection to all things venue manage- ment. Whether it’s how to increase your venue’s sustainability or how to enhance security measures, you will be able to reach out to any of the IAVM leaders you’ll network with for insight. Getting involved with IAVM is as simple as filling out the “Call for Vol- unteers” form when emailed annually. You may also contact your regional director for local and regional opportunities.
Develop a Local Network Having individuals in the industry on your side for guidance is imperative, but what happens when you need assistance local- ly? Developing in leadership goes beyond the title and role you play to your facility and extends to what you do in everyday life. IAVM will increase your venue management knowledge holisti- cally; however, working with local organizations will expand your understanding of your local market.
clude:
• Sports Commissions • Chamber of Commerce • Hospitality Councils • Business Network International • The Rotary Club
As you begin researching which organizations have the right
“ingredients” to develop your personal “secret sauce,” you will find most organizations promote similar core values. These or- ganizations encourage relationship building, lifelong learning opportunities, business success, and foster community. Collective- ly, developing these values will enhance you both personally and professionally. These connections are also supportive in rebrand- ing, as they can connect your team with the right leaders in the area who can assist with improving your organization’s visibility. The more you and your venue are involved in the community, the more opportunities for people to see your organization’s brand.
Use Your Network to Your Advantage Developing a local network within your community connects
you to business councils who serve to foster the communication of ideas amongst leaders of varied professions. These individuals can provide unique perspectives when developing the program- ming of your venue. Winning over the community is integral to your facility as they have the potential to become your season ticket holders, your primary source of word of mouth advertising, as well as your venue’s sponsors and donors. Local organizations allow you to educate individuals on what is happening in your facility while opening yourself up to receive pointers on how to improve your business. Working with local entities allows you to sit with those who are
most involved outside of the venue. Learn from the people: they will tell you what they need if you are willing to listen. As the old saying goes “The customer is always right,” so find ways to use your partners’ criticism to your facility’s advantage. Use what you learn from them to develop strategic marketing plans to bring people in. Being able to connect with individuals on a more per- sonal level helps establish the trust needed to have them want to work with you and your team. It goes without saying people prefer to work with who they trust. Rubbing elbows with those who have power within your community increases the level of trust they have in your facility and strengthens ties between partners.
Develop Your Character Meaningful engagement with the community provides personal
benefits, outside of building your facility’s brand and network. Working in the trenches of organizations like the Rotary/Rota- ract will make a tremendous impact on your interpersonal skills.
DEVELOPING A MEANINGFUL NETWORK Local organizations with beneficial volunteer opportunities in-
86 Facility Manager Magazine
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