Sarah Fejfar 0:00
I'm just gonna beat that drum forever because I am such an advocate for your health and wellness during an event cycle all the time, but especially during events, how are entrepreneurs like us during bravely to build a stage? Ditch the sweat pants and step up to the mic?
Sarah Fejfar 0:19
How do we create our own transformative events? So we can get our message out into the world in a bigger way. It's not only profitable, but it's actually something we can be proud of.
Sarah Fejfar 0:32
That's the question. And the answers are inside this podcast. My name is Sarah Fejfar. Welcome to greenroom Central.
Sarah Fejfar 0:39
Are you tired of feeling stressed and overwhelmed. During your events? Do you want to learn how to maintain your composure and really lead with grace under pressure. In this episode, we are going to talk about practical tips and strategies to help you keep calm and carry on. Even in the most challenging moments of your events. Back in January, I think it was one of those holiday weekends I went skiing with my family. We were at Mount bachelor, just outside of bend.
Sarah Fejfar 1:13
We're all pulling up to the chairlift. Two of us were on skis, one on a snowboard. And I got like the outside spot on the chairlift. So the spot on the right, and we're all pulling up. And I use my polls to move up to the line, right and go to sit down looking behind me for the chair. And there's no space to get on the chair that my family. And I think there was it was a four person, it was like a quad the person there was one other person and then the three of us and there was no room for me to get on. And so I was like half a butt cheek on the chairlift. And I and I held on long enough for the chairlift to start taking off.
Sarah Fejfar 2:10
And then I fell off the chairlift just completely fell off. And my skis fall off is a whole yard sales situation happening. And my family goes on without me. They just have to lift. So the next year wouldn't hit me. And this operator came up to me and had the most clear and concise and direct communication and also extremely calm at the same time telling me what to do and in what order, you know, like, grab yours, I don't know what they all the commands were. But it was like grab your skis and walk to the left, and then walk over by me and then get in the line here and then come back up and sit down on the left or whatever it all was.
Sarah Fejfar 3:14
I was a little bit in a daze because I was so embarrassed that I just fought off the left. No, it was staring at me. But I loved and really took notice that this young man had such clear direct comb, communication, my head at that moment is totally freaking out. Right? Because I'm embarrassed because I'm wondering if I'm hurt. I'm just like, totally scattered. But his brain was totally grace under pressure. And it made me think about leadership inside of our events and how it's our job to be grace under pressure. And how events can be such a pressure cooker. Right?
Sarah Fejfar 4:07
Such a pressure cooker. I mean cut to the end of the story I ended up getting on the left with somebody else they they said that they would send they would my Poles had fallen too far away from me to grab them. So they said they would send them up with the next group. And nobody was hurt. And everyone had a good laugh in my family and next time I looked I don't know what I think I looked to the right instead of the left to the left and to the right when I was like looking behind me to get on the chair in whatever I'm supposed to do. I did it right the next time and also made sure that there was plenty of room and nobody like it was one of those you know, like maybe all rolled over and one fell out type of situation.
Sarah Fejfar 4:59
You Yeah, at least it was good for a laugh. But I want to talk about pressure during events and being graced under pressure. Because inside of live event Academy, we talk about it all the time. And it's one of my most favorite mantras, that's just so important grace under pressure. That and details matter. But as it relates to pressure, I think it's helpful to go in eyes wide open. And I know this is hard if it's your first event, but if it's your next event, you've done one before, I think you understand a little bit about the fact that there's going to be pressure, there's going to be pressure, the whole from the moment you make the decision to host an event.
Sarah Fejfar 5:46
There's time pressure, there's financial pressure, there's task pressure, there's pressure from your community, with the asking of the questions and wanting to know logistics, all things, right, all the things, it's your first event you haven't done before, I would compare it to a launch in that there are so many moving parts, and it's deadline driven. So just buckle up and be ready. And so I say be grace, under pressure, understand that pressure is going to happen. And then I want to start talking to you about strategies that you can use in the pressure cooker.
Sarah Fejfar 6:27
That is events, because gosh, knows it's a pressure cooker. And so I know we've done a whole episode on self care. So I'm not going to go into the minutiae of details there. But know that that is a big factor in whether or not you are capable of maintaining your leadership of grace under pressure during an event cycle, it is absolutely vital. Yes, understanding that pressure is a thing is one, but two is really maintaining your self care so that you have a full cup that you're pouring from.
Sarah Fejfar 7:03
And yes, I'm just I think it's totally going to be a beat, I'm just gonna beat that drum forever, because I am such an advocate for your health and wellness during an event cycle all the time, but especially during events. So yes, maintain your your call your sense of calm using your self care practices. But also, I think team is a huge piece of that, we've talked about how it's so important to be strategic about assigning the tasks in categories, and having a team member in your event team member who's in charge of that category, right?
Sarah Fejfar 7:43
And having the regular cadence of the check ins and the meetings and all the things that are keeping those systems that then processes that really keep you ahead of the game, right? We talk about how your, your the power of preparation, right will allow you to keep more of a level head during the event. I think the power of team and the strategies that you use, and that preparation, and that cadence of check ins really, really, really helps with this whole grace under pressure concept, because you're just gonna feel like more details are taken care of, there's less to worry about, you know, that whole example I give you all the time of flowers in the bathroom.
Sarah Fejfar 8:36
Well, the power of preparation means that you've you've prepared in the sense of you've ordered them, and you know, who's going to meet the florist on the day of the event to to receive them, and you know, who's going to put them in the place where you want them to be in the bathroom. And there's a sense of calm that comes from knowing that those details are taken care of.
Sarah Fejfar 9:02
And that allows you when high stress situations arise, and yes, they will arise this is it's not an F it's when you will be able to stay more calm because you'll know that more of the other details more of the other minutia level stuff is taken care of. And so we talked about understanding that yes, there is going to be pressure all sorts. Yes, there are strategies for staying calm. The power of self care is one the power of team is another. The power of preparation is a third.
Sarah Fejfar 9:38
I think that when you get those ducks in a row, it allows you to be a stronger leader, right? And leadership is such a huge piece of the puzzle and events. We've talked about how Yes, you have a team that you're managing, but you also have a team of vendors. and suppliers who you are managing during an event cycle people that do not report to you. And it's important that you are leading by example. And you're being grace under pressure, I had a conversation with someone this week about intensity during events and how it's, it's, it's totally okay to be intense to be direct like the, my story from the beginning of this conversation where I said, I fell off the chairlift.
Sarah Fejfar 10:34
And the, the attendant was so clear and direct with the communication, that's okay, at that level of intensity is fine. That's not what I'm talking about. It's okay to be intense, it's okay to be direct, it's okay to be dialed in. But I want you to do it with a sense of, of have have grace, because you're, you're leading by example, you're showing the rest of your team how it's okay and not okay to treat your guests and treat your vendors. And by extension, it, it's the face of your brand, right.
Sarah Fejfar 11:18
So much of what we do during an event is, is all about creating that living embodiment of your brand. And when you lead by example, and our grace under pressure. During your event, it shows your team how to act, right. It's kind of like when you're parenting, a small child, and you're modeling the behavior that you want them to emulate. And this grace under pressure concept is, is a it's a big piece of your leadership during events. And I don't want you to underestimate how extremely important it is. And then I would end with saying that maintain perspective, right?
Sarah Fejfar 12:13
So I want you to perhaps have a scale in your head. I was listening to Jesse Itzler and Sara Blakely, a little bit of their talk from Grant cardones 10x event recently and a said in their marriage, they have this scale is one to 10 scale. And if something comes up, that might cause an argument or something, the conversation is it in their heads before they act on it is, hey, on a scale of one to 10, how important is this is this is this a seven or less? If so then we drop it.
Sarah Fejfar 12:59
And so I would encourage you to perhaps have some perspective like that, that you're maintaining during your event, in an effort to help you maintain that sense of grace under pressure. And delegation doesn't hurt as well. It's making sure the issues that get to you are a level at which need your attention. So I hope that was helpful. I think it's so important to me, because it wasn't always my story that I was graced under pressure during an event, I definitely know that it was a learned skill for me.
Sarah Fejfar 13:40
But I think it's one of the most important ones because it's a pressure cooker. Because so many people are holding your event in their hands. It's important for you to lead by example, and be grace under pressure. And I believe in you that it's possible. And if you've had scenarios in the past where it wasn't possible for you to maintain that grace under pressure and lead by example.
Sarah Fejfar 14:08
Then make note so that next time we can put systems and processes in place that eliminate those reasons why you might need to lash out or feel the need to lash out or crack under the pressure. Let's kind of reduce those those times when you're, you're testing. I hope this was helpful. I hope you enjoyed this gentle reminder on grace under pressure and that it helps you to keep calm and carry on doing your events. Thanks for hanging out with me today. Make it an outstanding rest of the week. Take care.
Sarah Fejfar 14:57
Thank you for listening to the greenroom central podcast. If you love this episode, then please take a screenshot on your phone and post it to Instagram. And be sure to tag at zero Fejfar. And let me know why you liked it, and what you'd like to hear, or who you'd like to hear from in the future that will help me know what to create for you.
Sarah Fejfar 15:15
The number one thing I'm asked by CEOs, whether it's their first event, or their 20th, and Sarah, how do I get more butts in seats, and so I put together a guide for you head over to filling events.com For your free copy of 107 ways to flow you. I want to help you quickly master event marketing events, even if you've never done it. I scoured the online business world and found 107 of my favorite strategies working right now. To fill your next in person or virtual event. Create the event promotion plan you need from these easy to implement customizable strategies for free over at filling events.com.
Sarah Fejfar 16:01
I appreciate your commitment to leveling up and learning the mindset and strategy of live events. Keep going, keep learning. If you want more, head over to green room central.com For show notes and all the links from today's episode.
