Regular readers of this column know that elevating the meetings profession has been a hot topic lately. Everywhere you turn it seems meeting professionals are looking to move up and tackle senior leadership responsibilities within their organizations. j There's tremendous pressure today for meetings staffers to pick the right venue, negotiate good contracts, select interesting speakers, attract new attendees, increase revenue, enhance the meeting experience … the list goes on. And at the same time, becoming more of a leader within an organization, getting involved in the strategic planning process, and taking a role in enhancing the bottom line - it seems they've all been tacked on to the list of requirements for meeting professionals to advance their careers.

What it boils down to is that it's not necessarily wise - nor possible, in many cases - for meeting professionals to work harder. What we as an industry need to do is work smarter.

PCMA has just released a brand new edition of its comprehensive guide for successful meetings management, Professional Meeting Management, Fifth Edition (PMM5), funded by the PCMA Education Foundation. Written and reviewed by more than 70 of your peers across the industry, it features the latest ideas, time-tested strategies, and important facts about meetings management.

In short, this book is an excellent resource to help you work smarter. With PMM5, you don't have to re-invent the wheel, and you can get in-depth information on the most current issues from experts in the field. Reflecting the growing demands faced by meeting planners, this edition embraces both the strategic and tactical issues you are likely to encounter. Even more, it takes a fresh perspective and challenges you to reconsider what meeting managers do and how they do it.

This updated and expanded version covers a wide variety of topics from financial planning to guest programs, from strategies for embracing the adult learner to conducting worthwhile meeting follow-up. Brand new chapters include sponsorships and strategic partnerships, multicultural changes and considerations, non-traditional meeting venues, and how to craft effective learner outcomes.

PMM5 is appropriate for senior meeting professionals, as well as those just getting started in the field. Both planners and suppliers will benefit from the information presented and gain insight into each other's perspective.

I don't typically use this space to focus entirely on a PCMA product or service. But I feel strongly about the value of PMM5 and what it can do to help advance the meetings profession, whether or not you are a member of PCMA. The way we did business yesterday is not the way to do it today, and certainly won't be the way of tomorrow. Keep moving forward and take advantage of everything you can to help you work smarter.