18 Jan 10 Tips for Expanding Your Understanding of Cultural Differences and Similarities (Part 2)
There are many ways to broaden your cultural knowledge, understand and appreciate cultural differences and similarities, and incorporate respect for cultural particulars in your meeting planning services.
Here are eight simple, fun ways to expand your multicultural knowledge base:
1. Dine in ethnic restaurants.
2. Research different cultures online.
3. Read books and magazines with cultural focuses that are different than your own.
4. Attend cultural events, such as Greek festivals, Asian art exhibits and Dia de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) events.
5. Visit museums, monuments and exhibits that pertain to specific cultures.
6. Attend short courses, speaking engagements or seminars regarding cultural diversity or offering interesting information about particular cultures.
7. Get out of the tourist traps when traveling. Every trip you take is an opportunity to explore neighborhoods, markets and attractions that are popular with locals, rather than simply staying in areas that are teeming with tourists.
8. Buy ethnic cookbooks and have fun learning about new foods and cooking methods with your partner or family.
While you may begin this journey in an effort to expand your potential client base and enhance your meeting planning services, you will find that learning about other cultures and trying new foods and activities is also a personally fulfilling endeavor that will help you grow both personally and professionally.
Tags: Art Exhibits, Asian Art, Cooking Methods, Cultural Differences, Cultural Diversity, Day Of The Dead, De Los Muertos, Dia De Los Muertos, Different Cultures, Endeavor, Ethnic Cookbooks, Ethnic Restaurants, Fun Learning, Greek Festivals, Meeting Planning Services, Multicultural Knowledge, Museums Monuments, Particulars, Speaking Engagements, Tourist Traps
11 Jan 10 How to Know a Little Bit About a Lot
So, you have come to realize that knowing a little bit about a lot will make your job easier, instill greater confidence in your clients and will assist you in acquiring a more diverse clientele. Now, it is time to determine the best ways to begin expanding your knowledge and acquiring the information that will help you grow your meeting planning business and better serve your clients.
This is actually much easier than you might think and you can begin the journey to broaden your horizons right now. You probably already attend seminars and trade shows, read trade publications and search online for the latest news in the meeting planning industry, so all you need to do is take this desire to learn and grow, and apply it to other topics.
Here are two ways you can begin your journey towards learning about new cultures, diets, industries and other particulars:
1. Read. A lot. Whether it is an eco-friendly magazine, a book about a particular religion or websites with information about particular groups of people or particular industries, reading is a great way to begin this journey.
2. Watch documentaries. There are documentaries on everything from farming and healthcare to being vegan or growing up Amish. While it is important to be careful not to assume that everyone, or every company, in a group shares every characteristic, documentaries are a great way to learn something new without even having to leave the house.
Tags: Being Vegan, Clientele, Confidence, Cultures, Desire, Documentaries, Farming, Group Shares, Groups, Growing Up Amish, Horizons, Journey, Little Bit, Meeting Planning, New Diets, Particulars, Religion, Seminars, Trade Publications, Two Ways
08 Jan 10 The Importance of Knowing a Little About a Lot
Knowing at least a little about a lot of different topics is important to your success as a meeting planner. You never know when your next client might need food planned around a Hindu diet, may insist on a LEED-certified meeting location, will ask if you can arrange to feng shui the meeting space before their arrival, or will need a space that will accommodate attendees with various disabilities.
If you have taken the time to familiarize yourself with these particulars before you ever have a client in need of them, it will make the planning process much simpler and will allow you come across as knowledgeable and sensitive to their needs.
If you also acquire a basic understanding of the ins and outs of various industries, cultures, diets and more, it will help you communicate better with your diverse clientele and will certainly increase your referrals as folks who have a difficult time finding meeting planners sensitive to their needs will be happy to tell their friends and colleagues how wonderful you are.
While it may seem like it will take a lot of time and effort to increase your knowledge base on multiple fronts, it is well worth the effort. It will make your job easier in the long run and will open the door to an ever-expanding potential client base.
Tags: Attendees, Clientele, Colleagues, Cultures, Diets, Disabilities, Feng Shui, Food Diet, Hindu, Ins And Outs, Job, Knowledge Base, Lot, Meeting Planner, Meeting Planners, Meeting Space, Particulars, Planning Process, Referrals, Success
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