• December 10, 2024

Event Profs in Crisis: It’s Time for a Wake-Up Call on Wellbeing

Event Profs in Crisis: It’s Time for a Wake-Up Call on Wellbeing

Event Profs in Crisis: It’s Time for a Wake-Up Call on Wellbeing 1024 683 micebook.

With another new year fast approaching, many of us will be thinking about the goals we want to achieve in 2025, both personally and professionally. This reflection is particularly poignant in the events industry, where fast-paced schedules and constant demands can push individuals to their limits.

And there are some worrying new stats to prove it. More than three quarters (77%) of event professionals regularly experience overwhelm, the same percentage said they consistently worry, and 73% struggle to focus. These stats, shared by Mike Ford, event industry veteran and founder of Grateful Lemon, paint a concerning picture of the state of employee wellbeing and performance amongst the majority working in the events industry.

Over the past couple of years, Ford has spoken at many industry events including micebook EXPO, IMEX and Cvent Connect, during which he has collected data through Grateful Lemon’s personal energy survey (more than 2,000 surveys and 10,000 data points specific to the industry).

In addition to the stats above, the surveys revealed that:

60% don’t get enough quality sleep
81% skip taking regular breaks
80% suffer from imposter syndrome
60% suffer from digestive issues
60% lack time for the activities they love (what we call “flow”)

Even more concerning is that when asked if they felt their personal trajectory was headed in a positive or negative direction, 80% said it’s going the wrong way.

We often talk about the issue of environmental sustainability in our industry, but Ford’s survey results show that human sustainability is equally in crisis (a topic also discussed by Lucy Eden, founder of Be in your Element, in her recent blog).

“We’re not just talking about a wellbeing crisis,” Ford explains. “It’s about creating sustainable habits that allow people to thrive—not just survive—in their work environments.”

He continues: “In an industry reliant on its people, their passion and their energy, I want to raise awareness and help people to help themselves at a personal level. There is so much the individual can do to help themselves. Secondly, I want the industry to recognise that the way we are working is not sustainable and that there is another way. This is not just about wellbeing, but much more about sustained performance.”

So, what can we do about it?

Real Help for Real People

The traditional approach to workplace wellbeing can sometimes feel more like a tick box exercise than meaningful change according to Ford. “The word ‘wellbeing’ is thrown around too glibly. It’s not about ticking boxes with yoga classes or mental health days,” he explains.

“For all the focus on wellbeing, the needle is not shifting, and I believe that is because employers do not make the connection to performance and therefore miss an important aspect of understanding behaviour change.”

Ford believes businesses need to address the basics: sleep, nutrition, and mental resilience. Practical steps like encouraging better sleep hygiene and providing healthy meal options for event teams are small changes that make a significant difference. It’s about daily practices that connect wellbeing to performance.

Breaking the Cycle of Overwhelm

A key factor in the pervasive sense of overwhelm are our modern work habits. The constant barrage of notifications and an “always-on” culture creates a state of fractured focus. This “Zig Effect,” as Ford terms it (based upon the Zeigarnik Effect), leaves employees spinning plates rather than accomplishing meaningful tasks.

“Rewiring the workday is essential. Focus on two tasks, complete them, and take unapologetic breaks.” He draws a compelling comparison between sports teams and workplaces. In sports, employers take an active role in guiding athletes’ off-pitch habits, like nutrition, to ensure peak performance.

In workplaces, while it’s not the employer’s role to control personal habits, they have a responsibility to foster awareness, provide education, and set cultural norms that prioritise recovery and focus. Ford advocates for leaders to define work practices that help employees maintain focus amidst distractions, and actively model and encourage these practices, shifting away from the toxic badge of honour associated with working all night.

By fostering environments where employees feel empowered to prioritise their wellbeing, businesses will not only improve productivity but also retain and attract top talent.

Time for a Wake-up Call

It’s not all bad news. The surveys reveal that people working in the events industry are passionate about what they do (around 80%), and when asked how connected they are to their purpose, event profs score the higher than most other sectors. Whilst that’s largely a positive, Ford says that when people are passionate about what they do, it can make it harder to put boundaries in place.

It’s clear that human sustainability is a topic we need to address and prioritise and in 2025. That doesn’t mean setting new year’s resolutions that are broken by the third week of January (as 91% are), but by embracing sustainable work practices, and encouraging real conversations about health and performance.

If this resonates with you, either at an individual level or as a leader, Ford suggests starting by considering the following questions to inspire real change:

For Individuals:

What language do you use when setting goals?
Do you frame them as “musts” or “shoulds”?
Are you honest with yourself about what needs to change in your habits and routines?
What stories are you telling yourself as why you can’t do something or actually won’t do them?

For Organisations:

How do you support focused work and recovery?
Are your initiatives addressing the root causes of stress and overwhelm?
Is your culture truly sustainable for your people?

 

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