It’s that time of year again when you will probably end up attending or hosting an office holiday party. Holiday office parties are great for bonding with your team, celebrating your company’s achievements, and boosting morale. Your office holiday party doesn’t need to be extremely fancy, but throwing a fun party does require some careful planning. There are three key rules of office parties that everyone should follow in order for it to be successful:
- Have a Space Big Enough for Everyone
While some companies are able to throw the office party at their workplace, this is not always practical for others. This is because office holiday parties usually extend the invitation to spouses and children of employees, which can double and triple the number of attendees. No one wants to be crammed into a tiny spot for hours and it is important that you find a big enough space. Here are some options for you to choose from:
Hotel banquet room: Hotel banquet rooms are a popular choice for many companies who aren’t concerned about their budget, and they will sometimes have event specialists to help you plan the party. Usually, a buffet set up by hotel staff will be provided for guests.
Conference room: Renting a conference room is a great way to provide enough space for guests and save money at the same time. Places such as YourOffice Ballantyne offer professional spaces with technology that will allow you to provide either entertainment or a quick recap of the company’s successes. This option is perfect for those who work remotely or for companies that simply need a larger space.
Restaurant: You can rent the entire restaurant (which would be expensive) or simply a back room for employees. Make sure that the restaurant you choose has the right ambience and is somewhat close in proximity to your office.
- Fun, Yet Professional
Some people think that holiday office parties are bound to be dull because there is no room to let loose and have fun. It is true that guests need to behave appropriately, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have a great time. The key is to find the perfect balance between fun and professional. To do this, keep your conversation about work to a minimum. While it is nice to celebrate the success of the company, people are also there to relax, have fun, and enjoy each other’s presence without bringing up work-related issues. It would also be good to use this opportunity to step outside your social circle to get to know employees better.
- Have Employees Participate
Throwing a successful holiday office party means that you will have to be creative. Guests can’t be expected to entertain themselves all night, so it’s up to you to add something to liven up the party. Get your guests excited with some of these options:
- Rent games such as Jenga, foosball tables, and photo booths.
- Set a theme (ugly sweater parties are popular for Christmas).
- Hire a D.J. and get people dancing.
- Have door prizes or raffles for employees.
Throwing the Perfect Holiday Office Party
Holiday office parties can help boost employee morale and set the tone for the coming year. While it can be stressful choosing a place large enough to accommodate your guests, it is important that everyone is comfortable enough to relax and have a good time. You can make the party even more fun by making it a themed party or by setting up fun games for guests to play. No matter what path you decide to take, following these three rules can help set your party up for success.
