9 Essential Skills to Look for in Event Staff

Your event staff may not be the ones making the big decisions, but they hold significant power to shape the experience of your attendees. After all, they are the ones directly interacting with them. That’s why it’s crucial to hire the right event staff the first time around to save time, effort, and resources in the long run.

Building on our previous discussion about best practices for hiring event staff, this post will highlight 9 critical skills to prioritize when selecting your team. 

Top Skills to Look for in Event Staff

Event staff can bring a variety of characters, personalities, and skills to the table, but certain essential qualities are non-negotiable to ensure the success of your event. 

To help you choose the best staff for your event, here are the top skills and attributes to look for when hiring event personnel.

1. Excellent Communication Skills

Excellent communication skills can impact the work dynamics of a workforce. Hence, it is not surprising that according to a report, “70% of employers state that communication is the most desirable skill for potential recruits”. 

In fast-paced environments like events, your staff should possess excellent communication skills to convey instructions, answer attendee inquiries, and correspond with their teammates. This ensures smooth coordination and avoids misunderstandings that can negatively affect the outcomes of your event. 

2. Adaptability and Problem-Solving

Unexpected problems are not new to events. Hence, you need to look for staff who have what it takes to face these issues promptly and wisely. Look for event staff who can think on their feet and adapt to changing circumstances. Whether it’s a last-minute schedule adjustment or an unexpected guest request, the ability to solve problems quickly and efficiently can keep things on track.

3. Strong Interpersonal Skills

As we have previously mentioned, your event staff are the ones directly interacting with your guests and attendees. In other words, they are the face of your brand. As such, their ability to connect with people is highly essential. Look for individuals who are approachable, friendly, and capable of making attendees feel welcome. 

4. Teamwork and Collaboration

In today’s workplaces, poor collaboration is a pressing issue. As per a study, 64% of workers believe that poor collaboration costs them at least three hours of productivity each week, while 20% report wasting as much as six hours per week.

Just like many workers, event planners and staff need to work in teams, making teamwork and collaboration skills not just beneficial but also necessary. Select staff members who can collaborate actively and can thrive in a collaborative environment. They should be able to support their teammates, communicate openly, provide constructive and unbiased feedback, and actively listen to their coworkers. 

5. Punctuality and Reliability

Punctuality and reliability are cornerstones of effective event management. In an industry where "time is gold," these traits ensure the smooth execution of tasks, contributing to a well-coordinated, professional, and memorable experience.

Event staff who are punctual help maintain strict schedules, preventing delays that could disrupt the flow of the event. Their reliability fosters teamwork, builds trust, and ensures that every task is handled efficiently and to standard. Moreover, these qualities enhance the guest experience by guaranteeing seamless service and demonstrating professionalism.

6. Calm Under Pressure

Did you know that event planning is cited as the third-most stressful job in the world? While event staff may not experience the same level of stress as planners or other key stakeholders, that doesn’t mean their role during events is easy. Events can be hectic, and stress levels may rise when things don’t go as planned. You want your staff to remain calm and composed under pressure to help maintain a positive atmosphere, even in challenging situations. When staff members maintain a calm demeanor, they create a domino effect that radiates calmness to both team members and attendees.

7. Knowledge of the Event and Brand

Hiring competent staff is vital, but selecting individuals who also have a deep understanding of the event and brand can make a significant difference. Well-informed staff are better equipped to represent your brand and provide accurate information. As an HR or event planner, you should select a team member who understands the event’s purpose, schedule, and key details. By doing so, you can have staff who can answer questions confidently, align their behavior with your brand values, and represent the event with positivity. 

8. Enthusiasm

Events are high-energy environments, so having staff who are enthusiastic and passionate about their roles in the event scene is important. Their enthusiasm and passion can fuel their performance and uplift the entire event, creating an engaging, impactful, and memorable experience for attendees.

9. Versatility

We can’t emphasize enough how events can be fast-paced and unpredictable, so staff who can adapt quickly to changes, like schedule shifts or technical hiccups, are invaluable. They can handle multiple tasks, from guest management to troubleshooting, ensuring nothing falls through the cracks. Versatile staff also excel at interacting with different guests, offering personalized service, and keeping the event flowing smoothly. Their problem-solving skills and flexibility to step in where needed make them key players in a successful event. In short, versatile event staff help keep everything running seamlessly, making them essential for any event's success.

Say Goodbye to Staffing Hassles With StaffConnect

Hiring the right staff is key in event management, but so is using a powerful event management platform to make everything run smoothly. That's where StaffConnect comes in, designed to seamlessly handle all your event needs.

StaffConnect is a comprehensive event management and staffing platform designed to streamline your operations. Equipped with cutting-edge task and staff management technology, StaffConnect automates tasks, boosts communication, and empowers your team to work more efficiently and effectively. From seamless onboarding and event scheduling to GPS check-ins and data gathering, StaffConnect has all the tools you need to streamline your events and stay organized from start to finish.

Want to learn more about StaffConnect? Book a demo today and get a chance to experience our app for free!