Six Key Event-Planning Tips

You’ve been tasked with planning the annual company picnic, and up to this point everything has gone smoothly. But with fewer than 48 hours to go, you learn that storms are in the forecast the day of your outdoor event, the band you secured is nowhere to be found and your stellar deco­rations were damaged in shipment. Where did things go wrong?

Event planning is a skill that requires project management, communication, problem-solving savvy—and a lot of fore­sight. Here are six event-planning tips to ensure a smooth start, execution and finish: