The Art of Delegation & Enhancing Your Team with Celebrity Wedding Planner Mary Dann

Transcript of #WeddingMarketChat on March 14, 2012 with Mary Dann (@MaryDann)
Answers were made on Twitter so responses will appear different.   

Mary Dann (@MaryDann) is a celebrity wedding planner from southern California. Mary’s passion for the industry has led her down many paths, including becoming a contributing writer for “Inside Weddings” magazine, “Ceremony” magazine and an on-air talent for many nationally syndicated television shows. These shows are Style Network’s “Whose Wedding Is It Anyway,” and “Married Away”, and WE Network’s “Platinum Wedding” and a special segments of“Top Ten Wedding Destinations”.
Check out her Website at www.MaryDann.com
Join Our Wedding Market Chats For Wedding Professionals Every Wednesday at 10:00PST, 1:00EST, and 6:00GMT (UK time) with the #WeddingMarketChat Hashmark On Twitter. Learn something new to help your business grow every week. The chat is hosted by Wedding Market editor Julie Albaugh (@juliealbaugh).

See Autographed Books, DVDs, Career Counseling & Coaching Program With Mary Dann
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Q1: @MaryDann How did you get involved with the @WeddingIndustry ?

Tweet Answer: I got started in the wed industry via catering sales mgr position at The Ritz Carlton, Rancho Mirage, CA.

Q2: @MaryDann You are known for making great teams. What is your secret?

Tweet Answer: The secret to making good wed planning teams is assessing personality types quickly, trusting your gut + prayer.

Q3: @MaryDann Why should wedding professional consider expanding their team?

Tweet Answer:  Wedding professionals should consider expanding their team, 1 person at a at a time cuz it will allow more personal time.
Q4: @MaryDann How do you pick your team? What is your process to finding the right person?

Tweet Answer:  I pick my team by asking the people on my team and i consider the people who have already invested in themselves, by:

Tweet Answer: Self investing means to have my career couseling, mentorships + educatiing themselves w/ my DVD and book: @wedding_wisdom

Q5: @MaryDann How do you train your team?

Tweet Answer:  I train my team by working side by side at weddings and in office for at least 1 year before they get their own wedding.

Tweet Answer:  I train my team by getting to know them + what they need to be successful. #weddingmarketchat

Tweet Answer:  If my assistants are not performing I 1st look at what i am doing and then I look at how I can help them.

WeddingMarketChat Question: what is the key to balancing family and work for you?

Tweet Answer: The key to balancing work & home is being centered n whatever activity U are doing @ the moment & gratitude

WeddingMarketChat Question: What do you mean by “asking people on your team”?

Tweet Answer: I ask my team if they approve of someone. My team makes a difference in how I manage

Tweet Answer:  If my team is not happy i am not happy! so we work together! Love my past years of playing sports & teamwork!

WeddingMarketChat Question: Do U ever use vendors from afar – like a calligrapher?
Tweet Answer: I hire vendors more locally so that i can build a relationship with them and get to know them better, in person!

WeddingMarketChat Question: When is the best time to bring in a new team member?

Tweet Answer: the best time to add to your team is when U are not starving 4 them & U have patience 2 get 2 know them & train them.

Tweet Answer: Help on the wedding is important to be creative & on top of things! nothing worse than a stressed wed planner!

Tweet Answer: I look 4 motivated team players internal ways of RELATIONSHIPS in the wed business!

Tweet Answer: I do seem to allow novice people to be considered to be on my team, after they have shown me professionalism & tenacity!

Tweet Answer: I usually bring in an intern when I have an assit wrk n the office so we can both assist intern w/information + guidance

Q6: @MaryDann What advice do you have for wedding pros that find it hard to give up control?

Tweet Answer:   #1 trust yourself to make the best decisions 4 u!

Tweet Answer:  #2 trust yourself to practice letting go of the small stuff so you can let go of the bigger stuff.

Tweet Answer:  #3 when you do let go of control sucessfully then praise yourself 4 your risk taking ability! acknowledge yr new behavirs

Q7: @MaryDann What types of tasks do you have them do first?

Tweet Answer:  The task that a new person does 1st carries on a convo w/my many questions. 2nd shadow me on a wed day. 3rd office time
Q8: @MaryDann When do you decide that they are ready to go to the next level?

Tweet Answer: I know when my event managers r ready for the next level by the way they exceed my high expectations + care 4 themselves

Q9:  @MaryDann How much should new team members get paid an hour?

Tweet Answer: My team members/event managers get paid: office $10-$18 hr. on wedding day $10.-$75. per hour.

Q10:@MaryDann Do you have any interesting projects or events coming up?

Tweet Answer: New projects coming up: st louis #abcheartland conf 4/1. dest. wed@ritzcarlton PR & later 2day spkg @ #esi pasadena

Q11: @MaryDann What would you like the #WeddingMarket to take away from this #WeddingMarketChat ?

Tweet Answer: Pls remember that someone gave u a chance @ 1 time so be open to the next best assistant!

Tweet Answer:  If you cannot bring on new talent then maybe u can help them w/ connecting to another collegue in the biz.

Tweet Answer: I love connecting ppl w/ the right people @ the right time! nothin better than building relationships so we all succeed!

Tweet Answer: Assists in my early days @jl_designs @simplysweetwed @constancecurtis @marydann_melisa @marydann_carrie @marydann_janel

Tweet Answer: More past assistants who I helped get started @weddingPR @darcimariee  #jenkelly  #shannonberg # and many more since 1991

Extra Points During WeddingMarketChat: 

Extra Points: You know when you are a professional planner, it is when you make it look really easy and fun!

Extra Points: Another key item to thriving in this business is laughter…..:)

Extra Points: As i delgate try to inspire them to want the same reslts and emposer them to have what they need to thrive

Extra Points: I have no patience 4 laziness or non truth tellers or peeps lookin 4 an easy way to success!

Extra Points: I like givng people a chance in the wed bus if they have a track record showing excellence in several life experiences.

Extra Points: Key attractive qualites on a resume: voluteer work, charity work, computer skills, PR, graphic design, sports, education

Extra Points: Key ? 2 ask n an interview: what is their family life like(past & present). key ? because we work w/ so many families!

Extra Points: Adding new talent to your team is so much to do with timing! like finding a life long mate!