Have you noticed the emails you’ve already received about the Christmas holidays? From sales to vacations, businesses already want you to start thinking about the holidays. With so much planning already taking place, if you don’t begin planning the holiday event for your company, you may end up singing around the water cooler with old fruitcake.
When it comes to hosting a corporate Christmas party it is absolutely pivotal the event is one to remember for all of the right reasons. You need to start planning now if this is going to be a success! After all, it’s a chance to show employees how important they are and that their hard work is recognized. In addition to this, it’s also a chance for employees to bond and let their hair down aside from the stresses of the workplace.
Easier said than done
Nevertheless, planning the corporate Christmas party is not as easy as it sounds. There are a lot of aspects which need to be thought through to ensure the party is a success. For example, you need to acknowledge the beliefs of all of your employees. Some may not celebrate Christmas but participate in other holidays such as Hanukkah or Kwanza. What type of food will you have? You may want to consider offering different options with the traditional beef and chicken such as vegan and vegetarian dishes along with gluten-free and nut-free choices.
Also, decide if you will have alcohol at the party. If you do, encourage responsible drinking. You can offer free taxi, Uber or Lyft rides home for those who drink and don’t want to drive. However, if they do drink and you don’t, as long as they don’t get out of hand – don’t judge them.
You’ll need to figure out your budget for the party. One way to reduce cost is by having a shared party.
Have a shared Christmas party
Christmas parties can be very expensive events. Because of this, one type of party which has become increasingly popular over the past few years with regards to work Christmas events is a shared Christmas party. It definitely saves a lot of money because the costs of the party will be split with the other businesses which are sharing the occasion. This is an especially good deal if you’re a start-up business and you’re trying to keep costs low. Less money will be spent but the occasion itself is not compromised.
In addition to this, by opting for a shared party it actually is likely that the standard of the party will go up compared to what it would have been. This is because companies will be able to go for unique and innovative venues that they otherwise would not have been able to afford. Moreover, the employees will benefit from the atmosphere of a big party occasion. Small and medium-sized companies would not have had this vibe if they had not gone for a shared package.
A final point worth considering is that it’s a chance to interact and meet some new people. This is especially important for people who don’t interact much during the day, like those in Knight Transportation trucking jobs. They will get to see old friends and make new ones. They’ll be able to create a network they can reach out to when they have questions or want to explore new ideas.
Decide and book your venue
Any business that is looking for something new to do for their corporate party this year should certainly consider the benefits of a shared party. Think about who you could partner with to have a shared party but don’t make the decision alone. Seek input from your team as they are the ones the party is for. If you find a company that seems like a fit, request a meeting and seal the deal. If you don’t find someone, for this year, keep the option in mind for next year.
Be sure to have the planning committee book a venue soon, real soon. Availability for the holidays, all the way through New Year’s, tend to fill up quickly. Along with budgeting for costs, this a main reason why you need to be talking about the party now. You don’t want to lose out by waiting too long.
Now is the time to start developing the plan for your Christmas party. If you do, you’ll have an event your team won’t forget. Here’s to YOUR success!
Carolyn R. Owens has over 25 years of proven experience and serves as a Career Strategist, Leadership and Life Coach. She is the Chairwoman and CEO of Infinity Coaching, Inc. where they help you up-level your skills so you can up-level your income. Infinity Coaching, Inc. provides one-on-one and group coaching, organizational training, and personality assessments. Carolyn is certified to give both The Energy Leadership Index Assessment and Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) Assessment. You can find out more about both assessments and other products and services at https://infinitycoaching.net.
