Technology doesn't come easy for everyone. In fact, many people have a hard time picking up new technology and figuring out how it relates to their work. When it comes to integrating these products into their events, many planners are completely overwhelmed. And, this is incredibly understandable. Technology is evolving so rapidly that it really requires a strong mindset focused towards technology. Today, I wanted to walk you through a couple of characteristics of the people who have the right mindset for adopting technology in their events.

Challenge-Focused

I guess you could read this bullet point in a few ways. Always be looking for a challenge. Or, what I really mean is, always be looking for the challenges in your event. What are the things that don't work? One of the best ways to find technology that will really enhance your event is to have a good sense of what is currently not working. This is hard for many of us to see, but it is really important. When you learn about new technology products, it's important for you to understand whether or not they would ever be a good fit for your event. You can always add on technology to your event, but it is much more successful if you can change something that currently exist in your event to go from failure to success. Is it hard for your attendees to make connections at your event? Take note of this and then keep an eye out for products that address that issue.

Education-Seeking

No single person has cornered the market on knowing all new technology. Products are being developed at such a fast rate that none of us can keep up. So, look to the curators. The people who are familiar with a lot of technology and are able to synthesize it for you. Look for the top 10 lists that highlight some of the companies were doing the best work. Don't worry about knowing every possible technology that is out there for your event, But always keep your mind on the lookout for new information. Bloggers, prints magazines, conversations with colleagues – all of these things can really help you get a handle on new products that you need to know about. Always be on the lookout for educational opportunities.

Comfortable With Failure

I hate to say this, but you're not always going to be successful. I have tried a lot of things that just didn't work. Sometimes, it's because the product that I selected is not a great product. Other times, it's because I didn't provide the right amount of support and education for attendees. However, in order to be successful adopting technology for your event, you have to embrace failure. As my friend always chants, fail forward. Make sure that you learn from your mistakes and implement for future events. Luckily, our attendees are very open to transparent brands. They are okay with you making a mistake as long as you admit and explain how you will move on.

Lucky for you, all of these factors can be developed. You don't have to be born with these things. I talked this mindset and you will find it much easier to work with technology, find solutions for your events, and be on the cutting edge.