Planning a Corporate Holiday Party? Keep These Essential Tips in Mind
Holiday parties for your team are the perfect time to go beyond the traditional office party and break away from the formulaic idea of what a company party should look like. As the year comes to an end and everyone’s social calendar begins to fill up, the last thing you want for your team is another holiday party on their calendar that feels like a burden to go to. Here are our best tips for planning a corporate holiday party that gives your team a chance to truly celebrate.
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Understand What Is Important to Your Employees
One of the most essential steps in planning your office holiday party is understanding what is important to your employees. Holiday parties aren’t one-size-fits-all, and developing a committee or advisory team to talk to employees about what they want to see is a great way to understand their perspective and what is most important to them around the holiday season.
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This is the perfect time to see if you should be planning an on-site vs. off-site event and address challenges that may arise, like how to involve your remote employees in a holiday event. The intention of a holiday party is to express gratitude to your team and celebrate their accomplishments; these exercises can help hosts ensure that the event achieves those goals through a meaningful, impactful experience.
Holiday parties are an important moment to demonstrate inclusion, and understanding your audience is the first step to truly accomplishing that goal. Inclusivity can then be reflected in your party’s theme and menu choices, or the decision to include employees’ partners or families in the invitation to the event. If your team works remotely or is spread across different locations, this is an opportunity to design an event that gives all employees a sense of connection.
Company Holiday Party Ideas That Go Beyond the Party
You can go beyond the traditional idea of a holiday party by asking, “What can I do for my team to alleviate stress around the holidays?” Bringing in a gift-wrapping service for your team is one way to take something off your employee’s to-do lists. Have them bring in their gifts to be wrapped, and they get to take home beautifully wrapped packages to enjoy the holiday season! Or you can send your team home with a catered Thanksgiving meal to take one more thing off their plates by taking care of what’s on their plate!
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As an alternative to a traditional holiday party, consider hosting a team building day with activities that foster collaboration and strengthen team bonds, such as outdoor adventures, problem-solving challenges, or skill-building workshops.
Team volunteer days offer a meaningful way to boost community engagement. Set aside time for your team to support a local charity or nonprofit—it’s a rewarding experience that builds team bonds while making a positive impact in the community.
Instead of exchanging gifts, encourage team members to participate in a gift or donation drive. Gather donations for a local charity and celebrate by going to lunch together afterward. This promotes a sense of purpose and allows everyone to contribute to a good cause.
Corporate Holiday Parties Are an Extension of Your Brand
Think of corporate events as an extension of your brand and an opportunity to communicate your company culture. Your event should be a direct reflection of your values. An innovative tech company that is known for disruptive concepts should host an event that is tech-forward and at a unique location.
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Your employees will likely share about the event within their circles and on social media, creating a fantastic opportunity to showcase your company culture and strengthen your brand. These types of events can be a recruitment tool and attract talent by showcasing your company’s culture to prospective team members. Consumers and customers might also see the event, so it’s important to ensure that it aligns with your brand and the image you want your customers to see.
Holiday parties for your team are an excellent opportunity to go beyond the conventional office celebration. As the year wraps up and calendars fill up, it’s crucial to create an event that feels refreshing rather than burdensome. By stepping away from the typical party format, you can ensure your team looks forward to celebrating together, fostering a sense of joy and connection during this festive season.
Looking to plan the perfect holiday party or company celebration? At Cassie LaMere Events, we’re masters of branded bashes. Reach out to us today to start planning.