The Teamwork Alphabet
by Susan Friedmann

What differentiates a great trade show exhibit from a so-so
one? The booth staff! The best displays are manned by a
coordinated team working together to ensure the exhibit's
success, rather than a haphazard handful of employees who
happened to be available that week. How do you transform
your staff members into a strong team? Just remember your
ABC's.

A: Assign creative, intelligent, and enthusiastic people to
trade show duty.

B: Begin early to be adequately prepared for the show.

C: Create goals and objectives for the show.

D: Determine benchmarks for the show, both for individuals
and for the entire team.

E: Establish a time-frame for each of the benchmarks.

F: Find ways to make the trade show fun and exciting for all
staff members.

G: Get upper management involved to make the show a
success!

H: Highlight each team member's strengths with appropriate
job assignments.

I: Identify how team members can support each other to reach
team goals.

J: Justify all trade show activities: Are they helping your
team achieve their goals?

K: Knock off any practices or behaviors that keep your team
from succeeding.

L: Last minute contingencies require advance planning and
coordination.

M: Maintain a chain of command. Every staff member needs to
know who is in charge.

N: New ideas are valuable: Encourage, capture, and implement
the best.

O: Open your mind to creative, innovative displays and
approaches.

P: Plan how to convey essential information and skills to
your staff members.

Q: Question your staff. What do they know? What do they
need to learn?

R: Recognize the need for training. Ensure your staff is
adequately prepared.

S: Success is quantifiable. Decide how you will measure
yours.

T: Time tables and schedules help keep the team on track.

U: Understand what kind of teamwork will be necessary to put
on a top-notch show.

V: Vying for prizes motivates many staffers. Offer great
rewards as incentives.

W: Watch out for trouble: Identify where the project can go
wrong and plan accordingly.

X: Examine the decision making process: Is it clear and
efficient?

Y: Yes men don't help: Encourage independent, autonomous
capable staffers.

Z: ZZZZZ: Trade shows are very long. Adequate rest before
the show is imperative!

Written by Susan A. Friedmann,CSP, The Tradeshow Coach, Lake
Placid, NY, author: "Meeting & Event Planning for Dummies,"
working with companies to improve their meeting and event
success through coaching, consulting and training. For a
free copy of ExhibitSmart Tips of the Week, e-mail:
susan@thetradeshowcoach.com; website:
http://www.thetradeshowcoach.com