Understanding the Journey from Simple Gatherings to Complex Events

Ever strolled over to the pilot and suggested a 'faster' way to land the plane?

Did you ever lean into a chef's ear and explain how to properly dice an onion?

Nope?

You might have noticed how little experience can sometimes lead to big opinions in the event world.

This, is the Dunning-Kruger Effect. It's the phenomenon where individuals with limited experience significantly overestimate their own capabilities. As psychologists describe it: "In which relatively unskilled persons suffer illusory superiority, mistakenly assessing their ability to be much higher than it really is.”

In short: they don't know what they don't know.

Why This Matters in Event Management

These situations used to be a source of real frustration for me. It felt like a fundamental misunderstanding of the skill and complexity involved in my work. When colleagues implied anyone could manage a large-scale event, it triggered a range of internal responses:

• Self-doubt: "Am I being perceived as incompetent?"

• Professional doubt: "Is my role genuinely considered trivial?"

• Frustration: "Who are they to make such a dismissive assumption?"

• Reflection: "Is there any merit to this seemingly simplistic viewpoint?"

• Motivation: "Time to demonstrate the true expertise required for impactful event delivery."

• Or, more commonly: "Just get me a quiet moment and a cup of tea."

Reframe It: A Professional Advantage

When someone offers an obviously naive or ill-informed opinion about event planning, resist the urge to take it personally. It’s a common human tendency to overestimate our knowledge in unfamiliar domains.

Instead, see it as confirmation of the considerable expertise you've developed. And when you inevitably face moments of self-doubt or imposter syndrome, consider it a positive sign. Why? Because acknowledging what you don't know is the hallmark of a true expert.

I readily admit that my learning in this field is ongoing. It comes from formal training, practical experience, trial and error, continuous reading, and engaging with other successful event professionals. Navigating the many nuanced situations where clear-cut answers don't exist is part of the journey.

Anyone who suggests otherwise may well be a prime example of the Dunning-Kruger Effect in action.

How do you handle those moments when the complexity of your event role is underestimated?