How can event planners transition to team building careers?

1 Assess your skills

The first step to transition to a team building career is to assess your current skills and identify your strengths and gaps. As an event planner, you probably have skills such as project management, budgeting, negotiation, creativity, and customer service. These are all valuable for team building, as you need to plan, coordinate, and execute effective and memorable events for your clients. However, you might also need to develop or enhance skills such as facilitation, coaching, feedback, conflict resolution, and group dynamics. These are essential for team building, as you need to create a safe and supportive environment for your participants, guide them through the activities, and help them reflect and apply their learnings.

2 Learn from experts

The next step to transition to a team building career is to learn from experts who can teach you the best practices and methods of team building. You can do this by taking courses, workshops, or certifications that focus on team building theory and practice. For example, you can enroll in a program that covers topics such as team development stages, team roles, team challenges, team interventions, and team evaluation. You can also look for courses that teach you specific team building techniques or tools, such as icebreakers, games, simulations, assessments, or debriefs. By learning from experts, you can gain the knowledge and confidence to design and deliver effective team building events.

3 Build your portfolio

The third step to transition to a team building career is to build your portfolio of team building events that showcase your skills and results. You can do this by offering your services to existing or potential clients, either as part of your event planning package or as a separate service. You can also volunteer to facilitate team building events for non-profit organizations, community groups, or professional associations. By building your portfolio, you can demonstrate your value and credibility as a team building facilitator and attract more clients and referrals.

4 Network with peers

The fourth step to transition to a team building career is to network with peers who can support you and help you grow. You can do this by joining online or offline communities of team building professionals, such as forums, groups, or associations. You can also attend events, webinars, or conferences that focus on team building topics or trends. By networking with peers, you can exchange ideas, insights, and feedback, learn from their experiences and challenges, and find opportunities for collaboration or mentorship.

5 Update your resume

The final step to transition to a team building career is to update your resume to reflect your new skills and achievements. You can do this by highlighting your team building education, certifications, or awards, as well as your team building portfolio, testimonials, or metrics. You can also use keywords and phrases that emphasize your team building expertise, such as "team building facilitator", "team building specialist", or "team building consultant". By updating your resume, you can showcase your qualifications and readiness for a team building career and impress potential employers or clients.