Many of us begin our day with an ideal action plan to propel our strategy forward. We use our favorite time management principles and consume our preferred energy drinks. Yet, often, we are sucked into day-to-day operations like paper jammed into a powerful paper shredder moving at speeds of 100 pages per minute and at the end of the day, feel like cross-cut confetti. We multi-task and strew edicts to appease our customers and support our directors but sometimes lose sight of the goal. We read that our colleagues have a Strategic Meetings Management ("SMM") program in place yet feel as if we will never make the front cover or even a last page notation in our favorite meetings magazine.
A colleague of mine on Facebook recently shared that he was washing windows at 10:30 p.m. at night during a global conference call with China. How many of us are trying to solve today’s problems yet guide the strategic direction of the future? Probably, all of us. How can we compartmentalize and progress our Strategic Meetings Management Program so that it does not overwhelm us?
Organizational leaders who are moving toward Strategic Meetings Management encounter "SMM Range Anxiety" because they believe that they must accomplish all of the strategic, operational and tactical activities of an SMM within a short period of time. Rather, I help my clients reduce the SMM Range Anxiety by moving gradually up the maturity model continuum by appending improvements and incorporating flexible solutions over a period of years. Don’t let the range of Strategic Meetings Management activities overwhelm your action plans. Start with a Petite version. Stay with a Petite SMM or move up to a Tall SMM if that is what makes sense for your organization.
Organizations often begin SMM by putting in place a few of the common SMM components based on their organization’s priority (e.g. save money, reduce risk, improve quality, etc.) Over time, many organizations continue to develop the program to a mature level. Too many companies and associations start out by putting the technology in place without considering the strategy, processes and resources necessary to begin and sustain a Strategic Meetings Management Program. Start with small and manageable activities. An SMM Program always provides a positive return on investment if developed correctly.
Within the next several days, you will have an opportunity to benchmark your Strategic Meetings Management Program with others in the industry at SMMBenchmark.com. At SMMBenchmark.com, you can assess your program and receive a report that will provide you with guidelines on how to move your program forward.
Download SMM Strategy Articulation Map and Maturity Model 22 Nov 2010
If you have any questions or need assistance with anything mentioned above, please contact me.
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Debi Scholar, GLP, CMM, CMP, CTE, CTT, Six Sigma Green Belt
- Meetings Management Mover and Shaker as selected by Corporate and Incentive Travel Magazine (2010)
- Top 20 Changemaker who influenced the meetings management industry by Corporate Meetings and Incentives (2008)
- Best Meeting Practitioner as selected by Business Travel News (2007)
The Scholar Consulting Group LLC
[email protected]
908-304-4954
Debi has the following designations:
- Wharton Aresty Executive Education/National Business Travel Association (NBTA) Global Leadership Professional (GLP)
- Meeting Professionals International Certificate in Meetings Management (CMM)
- Convention Industry Council Certified Meeting Professional (CMP)
- NBTA Corporate Travel Expert (CTE)
- Six Sigma Green Belt
- Chauncey Certified Technical Trainer (CTT)
Follow me on Twitter ...http://www.twitter.com/debischolar and on LinkedIN at http://www.linkedin.com/in/dscholar
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