You're facing setbacks in Live Events. How can you develop a growth mindset to bounce back with resilience?

Developing a growth mindset in live events means viewing setbacks as learning opportunities. Reflect on what went wrong, identify areas for improvement, and implement changes in your processes. Stay adaptable, open to feedback, and proactive in seeking new strategies to enhance your future events.

Look, no one likes when things go sideways at a live event. But here’s the thing: instead of letting it knock you down, see it as a stepping stone to leveling up your game. Every hiccup is a chance to fine-tune your process and come back stronger. Ask yourself, 'What could have gone differently?' and use that to avoid the same pitfalls next time. It’s all about building resilience and rolling with the punches. Trust me, every top-notch event pro has been there, and it's part of what makes you better. Setbacks don’t stop you; they shape you into the expert you're becoming!

Fail forward. I ran an event production company for 14 years, we produced everything from first run musicals to multi-session activations for clients like HBO, MAX, and Dos Equis. We would never have grown as an organization if we didn't lean up against our capacities. Controlled risks and failures were not just an opportunity to overcome, they necessitated it. So, our motto surrounding this was fail fast, fail often, and fail forward. The production members that embraced this philosophy are those now working as producers and executive producers. You have to take risks to find your limits, and you need to know those limits to surpass them with anything other than sheer luck.

1️⃣ Learn from Failures – Treat setbacks as lessons. 2️⃣ Focus on Solutions – Shift from problems to actionable steps. 3️⃣ Adapt Fast – Be flexible and open to new approaches. 4️⃣ Stay Persistent – Keep pushing forward despite challenges. 5️⃣ Surround Yourself with Positivity – Connect with growth-minded peers.

Constructive feedback is pure gold when it comes to growing, especially after things don’t go as planned. Don’t shy away from asking peers, mentors, or even attendees for their honest thoughts. What hit the mark? What missed? Use that feedback to pinpoint where you can step it up. Connecting with others in the event space who share your passion can open your eyes to fresh ideas and perspectives you might not have thought of on your own. Collaboration like that can take your game to a whole new level!

The best time for feedback is 5 minutes ago. The second best is right now. For event production teams feedback needs to be built into our operational structures, and I mean that at every level of production. You need to not just welcome but incentivize feedback, from your team, from your client, and from your audiences. That means building it into your master plan. If audience members haven't had at least three opportunities to give you feedback before leaving an event, you, the producer, have not done your job. If you aren't receiving feedback from your team daily beginning in pre-production and rolling all the way through post-production strike, you, the producer, have not done your job. Make the time for it, because you'll never find it.

After a setback, it’s all about rebuilding your confidence, and setting achievable goals is key. Start with small, bite-sized objectives that add up to your bigger dreams. Each little win gives you a reason to celebrate and keeps you motivated to push forward. Plus, having clear goals gives you a roadmap, helping you stay focused on progress instead of getting stuck in what didn’t go right. It’s about moving forward one step at a time, and before you know it, you’re back on track and stronger than before!

As a leader at PBL, I know firsthand how crucial maintaining a positive attitude is, especially when things don’t go according to plan. Positivity isn’t just about staying upbeat—it’s about creating resilience in your team and yourself. When you lead with a can-do spirit, it trickles down to everyone around you. Surrounding yourself with supportive colleagues and positive influences makes a world of difference. It’s that mindset that helps PBL push through challenges, turning setbacks into stepping stones and setting us up for even greater success.

Maintaining a positive attitude is great, but there are going to be times when you need to show up authentically for your team and your clients. Building true resilience means creating and supporting a space for people to show up with frustrations, with disappointment, and with exhaustion. In event production of all places, cultivating a culture of candor, supporting a community where everyone is empowered to fail forward, and where feedback is fostered and rewarded, means that... you're not always going to feel positively. Whatever you are, you are not an actor up to the task of maintaining that lie. If you expect honesty, you need to extend trust. THAT is what build resilience in teams.

This seems self-evident, but if you aren't learning, you're retiring. The question isn't whether you are learning, its whether you are going to direct your learning in ways that invite you into the best version of yourself. The best and most productive mid-career humans I know work 30 hours a week and learn for an additional 20. Not because they have to, but because they are hungry for it. Don't force yourself to learn continuously, you'll do that either way. Learn to cultivate the type of curiosity that will motivate you to seek education, to discover truth, and to revel in mystery.

In my previous experience as a corporate trainer and director of education, I’ve seen firsthand how vital lifelong learning is to staying relevant and resilient. The world of live events is ever-evolving, and at PBL, we’re committed to that same growth mindset. Whether it’s keeping up with the latest technology, industry trends, or refining management techniques, continuous learning equips us to tackle any challenge head-on. It’s not just about bouncing back from setbacks—it’s about leading the way and setting the pace in the industry. That’s how we stay ahead and deliver our best.

A good producer can react quickly to any situation. A great producer is already prepared to respond. The best producers adapt long before the need arises.