The need to celebrate your next event is something that goes way beyond the opportunity to show the world how good you are.

I remember asking the Chairman not to say thanks to me or my team for organising the event. It was then the largest event I had organised but I felt a bit embarrassed and uncomfortable about being thanked, simply for doing my job.

He took to the stage and forgot our brief conversation (this often happens, people rarely listen to you when they are in the process of preparing to go on stage) and he started his speech by thanking the events team. My heart sank. I hoped people wouldn’t turn round and smile or engage me in any way. Such was my deep belief that we were just doing our job and that it shouldn’t be “celebrated”, I didn’t even want to be seen.

I’ve pretty much taken this approach through most of my career. To summarise it has been, “This is what I do, I know I am good at it, but its my job. Let’s get on to the next event!” I wonder how many organisers recognise this approach to how they view their role and their events?

The need to celebrate

I know many of us share this inherent belief that “no one likes a show off”, so we should be humble when collecting an award, or accepting praise, or delivering an excellent event.

Attend (or watch the awards dinners you are organising) and see how many of the winners truly celebrate. And I mean celebrate in a “like you are a kid” type way. Loud cheers, hands in the air and seeking to share that joy with others close to them.

In the UK that rarely happens, and when it does, as I witnessed last year during the Association Awards in London, it looks incongruous. During that awards dinner only one winner celebrated in a style a child would recognise. And research shows that winner is more likely to repeat that feat again, why…….well BECAUSE they celebrated.

Such is the power of celebration

As many readers will have likely observed there is certainly a cultural difference when celebrating. North Americans, South and Central Americans and Southern Europeans in general celebrate in a much more exaggerated fashion than northern Europeans and Asians in general do. But rarely do we celebrate like children, free from the constraints of social norms, and more in touch with our inner self.

So, as I highlighted above, celebrating ones success leads to more success. And of course the reverse is the same: the shocking truth is that EVERY event I have organised since that large conference, exhibition and dinner back in 2001 would have been better had I actually celebrated its success.

As Richard Newman describes in his amazing book “You Were Born To Speak” celebrating is a crucial aspect of any achievement:

“The prospect of celebration hard/wires the mind for success. Your (inner demon) knows there is a reward at the other end of a tough event, so it’s more likely to stay in line when you need it”

So make sure you celebrate your next event!

If you are in the vicinity after I finish my next event or my next speaking slot, cover your ears, because this guy is going to celebrate like a kid. And the reason? My next event and next presentation will be better for it. So what’s not to celebrate about that!

Published On: March 14th, 2019 / Categories: Uncategorized /