Begin by evaluating your exhibit staff. First, list the key skills, knowledge, and abilities an effective team member should possess. Second, review each staffer's booth performance based on these traits, grading roles and identifying areas where improvement is needed. Once you've completed the assessment, it can function as an objective tool for helping to vet and evaluate your booth staff.

Next, share this info with your boss, and meet with him or her to review it and decide who should make the cut going forward. By using this information to evaluate all of your staff before a given show, you are providing your boss with logical information without having to single out the poor performer and possibly putting anyone on the spot – including your boss. Letting him or her see specifically where this person and others are not performing to the necessary standards for the team makes it difficult for your boss to unilaterally add her to the booth staff and ignore the consequences to your program. Using these impartial assessment tools maximizes your chances of getting the best possible staff and leaving the dead weight at home.E