What do you do if your team members are not meeting conference deadlines?

2 Set clear and realistic expectations

The next step is to review and revise the deadlines and tasks for your team members. Make sure they are clear, specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. You can use a project management tool or a shared calendar to keep track of the progress and status of each task. You also need to communicate the expectations and consequences of meeting or missing the deadlines. For example, you can explain how their tasks affect the overall conference goals, the quality of the speakers and attendees' experience, and the reputation of the organization. You can also offer incentives or rewards for meeting the deadlines, or penalties or sanctions for missing them.

3 Provide feedback and support

The third step is to monitor and evaluate your team members' performance and provide them with regular feedback and support. You can use check-ins, meetings, emails, or phone calls to stay in touch and update them on the conference developments. You can also use these opportunities to acknowledge their achievements, celebrate their successes, and recognize their efforts. On the other hand, you can also use them to address any issues, challenges, or problems that arise and offer solutions, guidance, or assistance. You want to create a positive and constructive feedback loop that motivates and empowers your team members.

4 Delegate and collaborate

The fourth step is to leverage the strengths and skills of your team members and delegate or redistribute some tasks and responsibilities. You may find that some team members are more efficient, experienced, or knowledgeable in certain areas than others. You can assign them more challenging or critical tasks, or ask them to mentor or coach other team members who are struggling. You can also encourage collaboration and teamwork among your team members and foster a sense of shared ownership and accountability for the conference outcomes.

5 Be flexible and adaptable

The final step is to be flexible and adaptable to the changing circumstances and needs of your conference. Sometimes, despite your best efforts, some deadlines may be missed or some tasks may be incomplete or inaccurate. You need to be prepared to adjust your plans, priorities, or resources accordingly. You may need to reschedule some activities, modify some details, or compromise some aspects of the conference. You may also need to seek external help, such as hiring additional staff, outsourcing some services, or consulting some experts. The key is to be proactive, creative, and resilient and focus on the big picture and the main objectives of the conference.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?