Event Planning

Most people are taught how to be high performers. But too few are taught how to perform in a team. And that’s a problem, because in most roles, you’re not an individual contributor. You’re part of a larger entity, working with others to build something. Yet, I see founders spend hours refining their product or systems,  But don't devote time to team development. At HomeServe, I approached team performance with purpose,  And it was one of the best decisions I made. Here are 7 tools I’ve used (and still use) to build high-performing teams,  Based on real lessons from building a £4.1bn business: 1️⃣ Start With Why (Simon Sinek) ↳ Before you focus on what or how...get clear on why. WHAT – The product you sell or the service you provide HOW – What makes you different WHY – Your deeper purpose or belief Every great team needs a reason to get out of bed in the morning. 2️⃣ The 70-20-10 Rule (McCall, Lombardo & Eichinger) ↳ How people actually learn on the job: 70% from challenging experiences 20% from coaching and mentoring 10% from formal training Most teams over-invest in training, and under-invest in real development. I'm amazed at how few founders or CEOs have a coach or mentor. 3️⃣ The Trust Triangle (Frances Frei, Harvard) ↳ Trust isn’t built with perks. It’s earned in three ways: Authenticity – Are you real? Logic – Do your decisions make sense? Empathy – Do you care? Without trust, you can’t build speed or loyalty. 4️⃣ The 5 Stages of Team Development (Tuckman Model) 1. Forming – Team gets together 2. Storming – Conflicts surface 3. Norming – Ground rules form 4. Performing – Results roll in 5. Adjourning – Project ends or evolves Don't panic during ‘storming’. It’s necessary friction. 5️⃣ The Johari Window (Luft & Ingham) ↳ Self-awareness is a team sport. Open – You know, they know Hidden – You know, they don’t Blind Spot – They know, you don’t Unknown – No one knows (yet) This helps surface feedback, build confidence, and avoid surprises. 6️⃣ The Energy/Impact Matrix (Inspired by McKinsey) ↳ Map every team member’s impact vs. energy. Use it to: Make smart hiring/firing decisions Spot burnout early Retain high performers High-performing teams don’t tolerate drift. 7️⃣ The RAPID Decision-Making Model (Bain & Company) ↳ High-performing teams make fast, clear decisions. Recommend – Suggest the course of action Agree – Those who must sign off Perform – Executes the decision Input – Provides relevant facts or opinions Decide – Final decision-maker This clears up delays, dropped balls, and blame. Building a great team is about building an environment where talent can actually thrive. I go deeper into team-building in my new book. Order it today: https://lnkd.in/eRYDKXdT ♻️ Repost if you believe team performance should be built, not assumed. And for more on how I scaled teams to build a £4.1bn business, Follow me Richard Harpin.

🔕 Design Guidelines For Better Notifications UX (https://lnkd.in/eAUuMVGw), with practical techniques on how to make notifications more useful and less annoying — with snooze mode, by exploring how and when they are triggered and measuring their use. Notifications Decision Tree (Slack): https://lnkd.in/eunw_VFX 🚫 High frequency of notifications is a very frequent complaint. ✅ Not all notifications are equal: some are more useful than others. ✅ Users value updates from close contacts, transactions, insights. 🤔 Users ignore automated, irrelevant, promotional notifications. ✅ Sending fewer messages can improve long-term product use. ✅ Let users choose notification modes (silent, regular, power). ✅ Suggest switching from push notification to email digests. ✅ Let users snooze, pause, mute if high volume is expected. ✅ Track how often notifications are ignored and acted upon. 🚫 Avoid disruption and notification fatigue by sending less. In many products, setting notification channels on mute is a default, rather than an exception. The reason for that is their high frequency which creates disruptions and eventually notifications fatigue, when any popping messages get dismissed instantly. But not every notification is equal. The level of attention users grant to notifications depends on their nature, or, more specifically, how and when they are triggered. People care more about new messages from close friends and relatives, bank transactions and any actionable and awaited confirmations. To design better notifications UX, we break down notification design across 3 levels of severity: high, medium, and low attention. And then, we define notification types by specific attributes on those levels — e.g. alerts, warnings, confirmations, errors, success messages, or status indicators. Most importantly, we scrutinize the decision tree to find the right timing to send the right types of notifications. The timing is really everything, so you might end up designing notification profiles — frequent users, infrequent users, one-week-experience users, one-month-experience users etc. In fact, Facebook has been experimenting with the notification frequency and learned that both user satisfaction and app usage improve by sending fewer notifications (link in the comments). And: whenever possible, allow your users to snooze and mute notifications *for a while*, and eventually you might even want to suggest a change of medium used to consume notifications. And when in doubt, postpone, rather than sending through. 🌳 UI Decision Trees → https://lnkd.in/eXr7nZdE 🍣 Interface Design Patterns → https://lnkd.in/eZv7EfMU 🔮 How To Measure UX → https://measure-ux.com 🎢 Upcoming UX workshops → https://web-adventures.com Happy designing, everyone! 🎉🥳 #ux #design

One of the easiest ways to improve your collaboration with product managers and engineers is to improve your design handoff files. - It doesn’t take a lot of time - It drastically improves how people interpret your designs - It reduces backs and forths between engineers and designers - It gives engineers confidence that they are doing the right thing - It increases the chances that what’s implemented will match the design Great handoff files, for me, are an instant sign of design maturity. It shows me that designers think not only of themselves but also the ecosystem of people around them. Coming up with great handoffs boils down to the following: - Setting context - Adding structure - Adding annotations - Including all states - Visualizing the flow - Including a prototype - Doing a run-through Not everything is required for every design initiative; a small feature update may not need a full handoff, whereas a big, impactful one may require everything from the above. In this cheat sheet, I’ve put together my top tips for delivering the “perfect” handoff file. Bonus: I have also created a Figma Annotation and handoff kit with handy components for the above. Find the link in the comments. 👇 — If you found this useful, consider reposting ♻️ PS: By handoff I'm not referring to the process of handing over a design, which should be a collaborative process from problem to solution, but rather the organized design file that is the single source of truth for what needs to be implemented. #uxdesign #uiux #productdesign

Many VCs have told me they expect a flood of companies to try to raise capital in the autumn. Founders, here are a few tips for fundraising in this market: - Get ahead of the rush. Preview your raise in late Aug and come to market in Sep, before VCs are backlogged. - Start your raise earlier. Fundraising is taking longer, so ideally raise with 9+ months cash in the bank. - Most importantly on timing, raise into momentum. Time your raise for a period where you're confident you can keep showing momentum over 2-3 months. This growth will help you build credibility with investors. - Start with a bigger top of funnel. You may need to pitch twice as many VCs as you would have a year or two ago. - Qualify, qualify, qualify. Many VCs have slowed pace or aren't investing. Make sure you're spending time with investors who are looking to write checks. - Don't name your round! A label like "Seed Extension" or "Series A" can unnecessarily opt investors out. Instead just share the amount you're raising. Investors will care whether your traction matches how much you've raised to date, not the label. - Be transparent and straightforward to build trust. A false sense of urgency may have worked in 2021, but is a turn off in 2023. - Be pragmatic about price, which could mean a flat or down round. Instead optimize for a partner you'd like to work with for the long run. What other tips do you have for fundraising in this market? Please share 🙏

In today's digital age, leveraging celebrity brand ambassadors has become a popular strategy for businesses, including startups. As someone who's been a brand ambassador for various companies over the years and dabbled in startups myself, I've seen firsthand the ups & downs of this approach. People often ask if it's always beneficial to have a celebrity endorse your products or services. I’ll break it down to the most important things to consider. Visibility - Celebrities bring a massive following, offering increased visibility & reach to a wider audience that may have been difficult to engage otherwise. This exposure could enhance brand recognition & create positive associations in consumers' minds. Credibility -  The right kind of celebrity could inject a dose of credibility into your brand. Consumers may in turn perceive your product as reliable, particularly important for startups aiming to build a solid reputation & carve out a slice of the market. Engagement - Some celebrities are able to forge personal connections with their community. By aligning your startup with a celebrity, you may be tapping into that emotional connection & that community may be more likely to show interest in your brand. Costs - Engaging a celebrity ambassador comes at a price. Even if you opt for an equity-based deal, you still need to allocate valuable resources to amplify the association, potentially diverting funds from other key areas of requirement. Authenticity - The alignment between the celebrity & your product must seem genuine. If the partnership feels like a misfit or forced, the results can be counter productive. Today's consumers are evolved & can sense inauthenticity from a distance. Sustenance - While celebrities can generate a buzz in the short term, building interest & loyalty requires consistent effort & a solid value offering that goes beyond the celebrity association. Your product still needs to deliver exceptional value beyond the initial buzz.. Relevance - Ensure the celebrity aligns with the startup's target audience, values & offerings. The endorsement should make sense within the startup's brand identity & goals. Budget - Assess whether the startup can afford the associated costs, especially including the ongoing marketing efforts. Do not assume that bringing a celebrity on board itself is going to win you the war. It’s just a head start. Long-Term Strategy - A well-crafted partnership should naturally integrate into your overall marketing & branding strategy & solidify your position & bring sustained growth. Timing - Most importantly, remember, spending so much in early stages, or early dilution in equity can have long-term consequences, so ask yourself if you’re really ready at this stage. Ultimately, the decision to engage a celebrity brand ambassador should be based on your unique circumstances & goals. Hopefully this will help some make an informed decision. #BrandAmbassadors #CelebrityEndorsements #InfluencerMarketing

If I was the Head of Events at a $100M ARR SaaS, and had a $1,000,000 event budget, here’s the exact playbook I’d run (with budget): BACKGROUND: Replicating SaaS is only getting easier. Building moats is not. The best moat you can build is your community. That should be the #1 focus of every GTM team. Here’s the event program: 1. Flagship Event 60% of budget is going here. Pair on the back of a major product announcement. Use sponsorship and ticket sales to generate another $500k - $1m Attendance: 50% customers, 20% BoFu, 10% partners, 10% MoFu Invest in niche influencers. Make your event the “it” event. 2. Field Marketing Target 15-20 cities Bring in 1-3 partners. Total cost per city should be < $10k including travel Attendance: 20% Customers, 20% BoFu, 40% MoFu, 20% ToFu Get your SDR team onboard. Watch response rates go from <1% for cold outbound to >18% with dinner invites 3. Webinars / Virtual Full time role + $1,000 per event for promotion & speaker gifts 3 objectives here Build relationships with speakers Generate content You can’t be in every city every month. Use this to maintain mindshare throughout the year Attendance: 10% Customers, 10% BoFu, 40% MoFu, 40% ToFu (I'd use Accelevents to manage 1 through 3) 4. 3rd Party Events Only invest in the top 3-5 industry events Spend $50k - $100k per event Host a micro event at each You can’t build a moat from 3rd party events so I’d focus on our owned event program. 5. Content distribution Any remaining budget goes to content distribution. You’re building a brand around your events. Allocate 90% of budget to creating and distributing short form video. Not lengthy sessions. Look, it’s a lot of work. But it can define your brand. And your brand will be the only thing that matters when products get commoditized. P.S. Your CEO and CMO need to believe in events. What would you change? How would you allocate your budget? One platform can run all your owned events. Check out Accelevents --> https://hubs.la/Q03d3MZ70

Two speakers. Same expertise. Same experience. One charges $7K. One easily charges $22K. The difference? The $22K speaker knows the secret psychology of conference budgets. Here's what they don't teach in speaker training: The Budget Psychology Most Speakers Miss: Conference budgets aren't about money. They're about perceived value buckets. Here's how planners really think: The Mental Math: • Under $5K = "Local speaker, probably part-time" • $5K-$10K = "Professional, but is this their main thing?" • $10K-$20K = "Serious speaker, this is their craft" • $20K-$50K = "Celebrity or true thought leader" • $50K+ = "Beyoncé's life coach" Your LinkedIn profile signals which bucket you belong in before they even ask your fee. The $22K Speaker's Profile Secrets: I studied 20 speakers charging $20K+. Every single one had: 1. Dynamic Banner Images Showing:        Massive audiences, book covers, media logos     2. Headline Math That Matters        Not: "Keynote Speaker | Leadership Expert"    But: "Keynote Speaker | 500+ Stages | Author of WSJ Bestseller"     3. The "Expensive but Worth It" Featured Section        • Professional speaker reel (not iPhone footage)    • Media logos from recognizable outlets    • Client list that screams "Fortune 500"    • ONE powerful case study with ROI     4. Strategic Name-Dropping        "Last month, I shared the stage with Brené Brown at..."    (Proximity = Premium Pricing) The Uncomfortable Truth About Speaker Budgets: A Fortune 500 event planner told me: "We have $150K for 3 speakers. I'd rather pay one person $50K who's amazing than three people $15K who are good." But here's the kicker: "If your profile screams $2K, I won't even ask." (Let that sink in.) The Fee Transparency Paradox: Old school: "Never reveal your fees" New reality: "Strategic transparency wins" What works now: • One-sheet with "Investment: Starting at $10K (or your 'starting at' price; this is preferred)" • Testimonial mentioning "worth every penny of the $20K" • Case study showing ROI that justifies premium pricing Why? Because planners with real budgets want to know you're in their league. The 2-Hour Fix: Want to double your speaking fees? Fix these five things: 1. Audit your cover image 2. Add quantifiable credibility to your headline 3. Create a 90-second reel showing audience transformation 4. Get 3 recommendations that mention specific outcomes 5. Add "Investment Range: $XX-$XX" to your speaker one-sheet Remember: Planners aren't comparing your skills. They're comparing your perceived value. Make sure your profile sells the right perception! P.S. - A deeper dive on this coming in a playbook Saturday. If you want the full breakdown just hit "View my newsletter" and drop your email.

India is lost in the magic of 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲, but have you wondered what legal protocols are needed before hosting such grand concerts? Here's a quick checklist: ✅ 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬: Secure approvals from local authorities and police, including details of timings and crowd limits. ✅ 𝐕𝐞𝐧𝐮𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐬: Sign detailed agreements with venue owners, covering cancellation policies and liabilities. ✅ 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐑𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬: Obtain licenses from music labels if copyright societies lack licensing rights, ensuring clarity on usage terms. ✅ 𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐜 𝐋𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐞: Obtain licenses from music labels if copyright societies lack licensing rights, ensuring clarity on usage terms. ✅ 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐋𝐢𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞: Cover for accidents or damages during the event, protecting both organizers and attendees. ✅ 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 & 𝐒𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐲 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞: Ensure fire safety measures, crowd control protocols, and emergency response plans. ✅ 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐀𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬: Define performance terms, timings, payments, and cancellation clauses clearly. ✅ 𝐋𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐑𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬: If the concert is being streamed live, establish agreements with streaming platforms covering territorial rights, exclusivity, number of re-runs of recorded feed and revenue-sharing models. ✅ 𝐓𝐚𝐱𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Adhere to GST and entertainment tax rules, ensuring accurate filings to avoid penalties. Big concerts are more than just music—they’re a legal concert in themselves! 🎶⚖️ #coldplayindia #concert #legalcompliance #entertainmentlaw

Early in my facilitation career, I made a big mistake. Spent hours crafting engaging activities and perfecting every little detail… Thinking that amazing learning design is what would make my workshops stand out and get me rehired. Some went great. Some bombed. You know the ones, sessions where: - One participant dominated the conversation. - People quietly disengaged, barely participating. - half the group visibly frustrated but not saying anything. I would push through, hoping things would course-correct. But by the end, it was a bit… meh. I knew my learning design was great so... What was I missing? Why the inconsistency between sessions? 💡I relied too much on implicit agreements. I realised that I either skipped or rushed the 'working agreements'. Treating it like a 'tick' box exercise. And it's here I needed to invest more time Other names for this: Contract, Culture or Design Alliance, etc... Now, I never start a session without setting a working agreement. And the longer I'm with the group, the longer I spend on it. 25 years of doing this. Here are my go-to Qs: 🔹 What would make this session a valuable use of your time? → This sets the north star. It ensures participants express their needs, not just my agenda. 🔹 What atmosphere do we want to create? → This sets the mood. Do they want an energising space? A reflective one? Let them decide. 🔹 What behaviours will support this? → This makes things concrete. It turns abstract hopes into tangible agreements. 🔹 How do we want to handle disagreement? → This makes it practical. Conflict isn’t the problem—how we navigate it is. ... The result? - More engaged participants. - Smoother facilitation. - Ultimately, a reputation as the go-to person for high-impact sessions. You probably already know this. But if things don't go smoothly in your session. Might be worth investing a bit more time at the start to prevent problems later on. Great facilitation doesn't just happen, It's intentional, and it's designed. ~~ ♻️ Share if this is a useful reminder ✍️ Have you ever used a working agreement in your workshops? What’s one question you always ask? Drop it in the comments!

AI is revolutionizing the fashion industry, and catwalk shows are no exception. What do you think about this one? 1. Virtual Models and AI-Generated Fashion Shows: Hyperrealistic AI Models: AI is creating incredibly realistic virtual models that can walk the runway, showcasing designs without the need for physical models. This opens up possibilities for diversity and inclusivity in fashion. AI-Generated Designs: AI algorithms can generate unique and innovative fashion designs, pushing the boundaries of creativity. AI generated fashion designs Virtual Reality Fashion Shows: Immersive virtual reality experiences allow audiences to experience fashion shows from anywhere in the world, creating a more engaging and interactive experience. 2. AI-Powered Personalization: Personalized Catwalk Experiences: AI can analyze viewer preferences and tailor the catwalk show to individual tastes, creating a more personalized and enjoyable experience. AI-Driven Trend Forecasting: AI algorithms can analyze vast amounts of data to predict upcoming trends, helping designers stay ahead of the curve. 3. Enhanced Efficiency and Sustainability: AI-Optimized Production: AI can streamline the production process, reducing waste and improving efficiency. Sustainable Fashion Solutions: AI can help identify sustainable materials and practices, promoting a more eco-friendly fashion industry. 4. Interactive and Engaging Experiences: AI-Powered Audience Interaction: AI can enable real-time audience interaction, such as voting on favorite looks or creating custom designs. Augmented Reality Catwalk Shows: AR can overlay digital elements onto the physical runway, creating a more immersive and visually stunning experience. While AI is undoubtedly changing the landscape of catwalk shows, it's important to note that it's not replacing human creativity and artistry. Instead, AI is empowering designers and models to push the boundaries of fashion, creating innovative and engaging experiences for audiences around the world. #Ai #Innovation #Technology