Corporate dreams: how to organize an event
Ah, this beautiful New Year’s time. The time of annual reports, burning deadlines, feverish bustle and blinking garlands that can cause an epilepsy attack even in a healthy person. The season of corporate events and a fresh harvest of articles with tips on how to exemplary have fun and not be dishonored. The period of throwing money away for events that do not entail any long-term benefits and few people like. What mistakes should be avoided in order to conduct an effective corporate event?
Theoretically, a corporate party is an effective management tool. In an ideal world, he should help newcomers to quickly join the team and unite all employees. Make it clear to employees that they are an integral part of business success. And most importantly – motivate for labor exploits.
The reality is very different. In fact, corporate events sometimes open a portal to hell. Their conduct leads to shameful episodes, loud obscene abuse, and sometimes even to assault. And all this is paid by the employer out of pocket.
Which corporate party is effective for the employer?
The one that is organized is not just for show. At the heart of a good event is the solution of certain business problems. A holiday for the sake of a holiday is the road to nowhere. The corporate party should have a goal. If your company does not have it and do not want to say anything other than “thanks” to the employees, it is better to please them with a bonus. Job search service Superjob found that most Russians (74%) would prefer money if they had a choice.
Alternatively, you can give employees an extra day off. Believe me, they will appreciate it above a banal banquet. So you really increase the loyalty of employees to the company, and also avoid a number of problems and negative consequences that usually arise during and after corporate events. If you still plan to organize an event for the team, do it right. Below are a few thoughts on a given topic.
Thought 1: conduct a survey among employees
It is useful to find out your staff's idea of the perfect corporate event. To do this, you can conduct an anonymous survey using a tool such as Google Forms or Survey Monkey, for example. Employees should be involved in the planning process. This will make them feel that their opinion is appreciated. Allow them to control at least one aspect of the event, whether it is food, music, cultural program or corporate event time.
When you ask employees what they want, and then provide them with it, you increase the level of satisfaction and loyalty. Do not forget to collect feedback at the end of the evening or the next day. This will allow you to take into account errors and make the next event even more effective. Believe me, employees will be grateful for all your efforts and efforts.
Thought 2: Do Not Force Corporate
When a company organizes an event outside of working hours, the visit should be voluntary. If one of the employees refuses to come to the corporate party, just wish happy holidays. Put a birthday card or small gift on the table. Do not take the absence of an employee at the event as a personal insult. Many managers evaluate whether an employee is loyal, hardworking, or something else. This is the wrong position. Someone has no one to leave the child with, someone has planned a trip to their relatives for this time, and someone just has a too jealous spouse.
As for the corporate party itself, it also does not need to force staff to take part in all the activities you invented, such as games, contests or quizzes. Do not push. Let them participate only if they are ready for this. Recognize that not everyone likes this kind of entertainment.
Thought 3: don't host an office event
Your employees spend at least a third of their day at work. Their brains learned to associate office space with professional activities and all the emotions that accompany it. It will be hard for hyperresponsible people to relax and be distracted, they simply will not be able to forget about work tasks and burning projects. There is also the danger of endowing the office with informal associations. Memories of frivolous dances of colleagues in the future will interfere with the workflow.
If it’s impossible to organize an outdoor event, do everything possible to visually change the familiar space. Try to clean the furniture, hide the office equipment behind decorations, turn on festive music, change the lighting – transform the corporate venue so that employees can see it in a new way.
Thought 4: Don't Take Your Personal Time
If you are going to have a truly successful corporate holiday, consider organizing it during business hours. Why? Firstly, it ensures that everyone will be present. Secondly, it will not affect the personal plans of your staff. For example, before the New Year, most people experience stress, balancing between family events, school gatherings and buying gifts for loved ones. Nothing darkens the mood like a corporate party after hours, for which completely different classes were planned.
Thought 5: say thank you personally
Corporate party in a chic place with an interesting and thoughtful program is good. But the main task is to thank and evaluate the staff. In addition to the generally accepted solemn speech from the stage, it makes sense to approach the employees to personally express recognition for their contribution to the work. Also take an interest in what is happening in their life. If someone is going through hard times, check if any help is needed from the company or not. This is a good way to show your employees that you care about them.
Afterword
There are many people who hate corporate parties. And there can be many reasons for this, for example, a bad past experience attending such events. Ready to share personal stories? Can you recall the most memorable or wildest corporate holiday? Write your stories in the comments, I’m sure that life is much more interesting than any, even the most daring fantasies.
For example, once at a corporate holiday in a company where I used to work, one of the guests of the event went into the river. Uncle just got up from the table, went to meet the river wave and disappeared. At first, no one understood what was happening and did not stop the walker. Well, a man went ashore and went. Who knew that he would climb into the water. It was in the evening. Comrade didn’t come back; he didn’t answer the phone. I, who organized this celebration of life, HR, SB, the company management and the accounting team in full force were shocked. Hair slowly turned a noble gray color and prepared to leave our nape. By nightfall, the guys from the Ministry of Emergencies came to us and we, as in the cartoon "Hedgehog in the Fog," shouted on a blind night: "A horse …"
The night was sleepless, black thoughts, prospects pale. All this continued until the uncle came to work. Rested and pleased. It turned out that the man swam to the neighboring shore and went home on foot. The comrade’s phone, of course, did not survive the meeting with the pond and ordered a long life, so he was out of the access zone. Since then, for corporate HR events near water have been taboo.
P.S. Holiday greetings! The imperial child of revelry and the wildest frenzy of all the Habrovsk citizens in the New Year, for example.
