Changing the Plan

Tomorrow is the first day of our Iceland Workshop with Jacob and Jeremiah. This is the fifth workshop we’ve run since April, 2018, and every one has been incredible. 

But a lot of things haven’t gone according to plan.

I built the first four workshops from the ground up, developing the itinerary, scouting the locations, and hiring the drivers, chefs, and travel guides. I built the website, wrote the copy, served the customers, and created a space where creators could learn and connect. 

In the course of doing this, I happened upon a heap of things that threw the plan off course. Changes in the schedule, last-minute requests, weather delays, and serious traffic. We pack these days pretty tight, so when one thing moves, everything else movs as well. 

When communicating a plan to a group, don’t wait until you’re 100% confident in your plan. Communicate your plan to the group, even if you’re only 50% sure it’ll happen that way. This gives people a frame to visualize and act upon. Then, when things inevitably have to change, remind people of the original plan, be kindly transparent about why it’s changing, then let people know the adjustment. People aren’t afraid of being on a trip in which plans change. They’re afraid of being on a trip that has no plan.

Luckily, Contiki took notice of what Jacob and Jeremiah were doing, and wanted to help out. They’re lending us their expertise in travel, trip management, and logistics. I’m excited for this week because I’ll have even more time to make sure Jacob and Jeremiah are feeling their best to really connect with our guests. 

Follow along on my Instagram stories!