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Summer Reset Complete

As summer comes to a close, the nights start to draw in and the kids return back to school, it is likely that we will begin to see a surge in planning for the final quarter of the year. Yes, the last few months of 2024!

Summer is a time to enjoy time with family, scale back on the daily grind and enjoy the longer days. It’s a time to reset and focus on the goals we set ourselves back in January.

What’s the key to switching from holiday mode back to work mode?

I recommend starting by reviewing your priorities and creating a plan of action for the short, medium and longer term. Plans you set at the start of the year may well be different six months later. Set realistic goals for the coming weeks.

Returning to work after summer is an opportunity to do things differently. When re-evaluating,
take a fresh look at your priorities, evaluate the resources available to you, look where you can add value and what is best outsourced. Taking this time to think creatively allows you to rethink your work routine with a sprinkle of inspiration.

At Lemon Zest, we are now concentrating on the remaining months of the year. Our planning and prioritising kicks in as we gear up for a peak in events, awards evenings, conferences, strategic planning, Christmas parties and everything else in between.

The Lemon Zest Team has been busy over the summer but nothing like what we see in September to December. September sees a peak in our event consultation and event support as the focus switches to end-of-year deliverables. Often customers have a particular venue in mind and popular venues get booked up in advance so the last few weeks this has been an area we have focussed heavily on, supporting venue selection and negotiation. We are also working with customers to plan January 2025 conferences.

Tips to build impact into your strategic planning through events

Revisit the Marketing Plan
Action: Take a look at how your marketing activities stack up against any new trends or challenges that are prevalent to ensure your marketing plan still aligns with the business goals you set back at the start of 2024. Organise a strategy session to update your sales & marketing plan.

Recognise employees, partners and customers
Action: The hard work of individuals and teams should not go unrecognised. Recognising those who go the extra mile and make an impact through award events will spread positive vibes throughout an organisation. Awards evening don’t have to be on the scale of the Oscars. We have a short reel for you to get an idea here: LINK

Set Clear Goals for Q4
Action: Define specific, measurable (SMART) goals for the remainder of Q4. This might be launching a new product, revising sales targets or incentivising deals. Communicate your KPIs and get planning for the year ahead. ‘Kick-off conferences’ are popular at the start of each year – but you need to think about your venue now and save the date etc. We have loads of ideas for venues and successful formats – just ask us for a no-obligation consultation.

Using events can underpin finishing the year on a high with the motivation to succeed and collaborate (like we had in the first week back in January!).

Get in touch if you want any support in planning your events, understanding venues that provide a great space for flexible requirements. Contact Us