Group cruise planners may seem like the life of the party, but they can also be overstressed and overworked. The job isn’t as easy as it looks, it involves a lot of planning and it seems as if everyone else on the whole boat gets to have fun but the group cruise planner! A little common sense would suggest that there might be an opportunity to make friends and reap rewards, so here is some advice on how to turn a group cruise planner into a cohort:

• Let them know how much you admire their dedication – A little appreciation goes a long ways in so many cases, yet it is one of the last things that people do. Someone who can keep work and play separate day in and day out is indeed praiseworthy , especially when the two blend together so well.
• Offer something in return – If a cruise planner is ever in your city, perhaps between cruises, offer them a tour of your corporate facilities. It probably won’t cost much, especially if tours are already available, and it could certainly help build bridges that could prove valuable in future cruises.
• Offer concise solutions, not elaborate problems – Remember that group cruise planners are under a lot of pressure to get around a million-and-a-half things done in the time it takes most people to accomplish just a handful of tasks. If you have concise problems and solutions instead of long-winded problems, you are a big step towards making a new friend.

If you work as a meeting and event planner for a corporation, there are very likely hiring policies and procedures in place that make the process of hiring new staff members clear and simple; however, if you are a self-employed planner looking to expand your staff, it may feel like more of a challenge to determine how best to acquire new talent. Fortunately, there are always folks looking for work; therefore, the task is simply to find someone with the skills, experience and personality to be a good fit for you and your meeting or event planning business.

Starting with people you know is usually a good first step. This does not necessarily mean hiring friends or family members, as this is sometimes a good idea and sometimes not. But, it does mean that you should keep an eye out for potential candidates at networking socials and events you attend, as well as letting people you work with know that you are looking to hire.

A great place to start can be the folks that work as event staff, such as servers, bartenders, check-in staff or security guards. Some of these people may have taken these jobs as a way to get into the event planning field and begin to make connections, or to cover expenses while they complete their college degrees.

It doesn’t matter if you’re the owner of an event planning business or an employee in one–you need to network. Anyone who doesn’t will pay the price of dwindling business prospects, and therefore dwindling business. Networking is the quintessential give-and-take proposition. In addition to the usual networking opportunities, here are some that you may have overlooked.

Book clubs. If you have ever been in a book club, you know how close-knit these groups can get. Even if you don’t have a lot of time to read, you could spend a few minutes a night looking over the choice of the month, attend the discussion, then network during refreshments afterwards.

Grocery store. A woman who teaches violin reports that she gets one new student every month or so just from talking to strangers at the grocery store. Any store will do. Take your time, too–people come and go all day long.

Sponsor an event yourself. If you are self employed, why not create a networking party for your friends, their friends and families, and your own business contacts. Make sure the event design shows your own talents for planning. Two hours a month can make a huge difference!

There are lots of ways to set up your life for maximum contact–you’re a meeting planner so you already know how!