Ah, what a beautiful New Year's Eve. A time of annual reports, burning deadlines, hectic fuss and flashing garlands that can cause an epileptic attack even in a healthy person. A season of corporate parties and a fresh crop of articles with tips on how to have fun without embarrassment. The period of throwing money away on activities that do not entail any long-term benefits and few people like it. What mistakes should be avoided in order to hold an effective corporate event?
Theoretically, corporate is an effective management tool. In an ideal world, it should help newcomers quickly integrate into the team and rally all employees. Make it clear to employees that they are an integral part of the success of the business. And most importantly - to motivate for labor exploits.
Reality is very different. In fact, corporate events sometimes open a portal to hell. Their conduct leads to shameful episodes, loud obscene language, and sometimes even to assault. And the employer pays for all this out of his own pocket.
What corporate 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 a road to nowhere. A corporate party must have a purpose. If your company doesnβt have it and you donβt want to say anything other than βthank youβ to employees, itβs better to please them with a bonus. Job search service Superjob found that the majority of Russians (74%), given a choice, would prefer money.
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 some thoughts on the topic.
Thought 1: Conduct a survey among employees
It is useful to know your staff's idea of ββan ideal corporate party. To do this, you can conduct an anonymous survey using a tool such as Google Forms or Survey Monkey, for example. Employees must be involved in the planning process. This will make them feel that their opinion is valued. Let them control at least one aspect of the event, be it the food, the music, the cultural program, or the timing of the corporate party.
When you ask employees what they want and then give it to them, you increase satisfaction and loyalty. Be sure to collect feedback at the end of the evening or the next day. This will take into account mistakes and make the next event even more effective. Believe, employees will be grateful for all your efforts and diligence.
Thought 2: don't force corporate
When a company hosts an event outside business hours, attendance must be voluntary. If one of the employees refuses to come to the corporate party, just wish them happy holidays. Put a greeting card or a small gift on the table. The absence of an employee at an event should not be taken as a personal insult. Many managers evaluate in this way 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 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 the staff to take part in all the activities you have invented, such as games, contests or quizzes. Don't push. Let them participate only if they are ready for it. 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 have learned to associate office space with professional activities and all the emotions that go with it. It will be difficult for hyper-responsible people to relax and get distracted, they simply cannot forget about work tasks and burning projects. There is also the danger of endowing the office with informal associations. Memories of the frivolous dances of colleagues will interfere with the work process in the future.
If you canβt organize an outdoor event, do your best to visually change the familiar space. Try to remove furniture, hide office equipment behind decorations, turn on holiday music, change the lighting - transform the venue so that employees can see it in a new way.
Thought 4: Don't take personal time
If you're going to have a truly successful corporate event, consider hosting it during business hours. Why? First, 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 activities, school reunions, and shopping for gifts for loved ones. Nothing so darkens the mood as a corporate party after hours, for which completely different classes were planned.
Thought 5: Say "thank you" in person
A corporate event in a chic place with an interesting and well-thought-out program is good. But the main task is to thank and appreciate the staff. In addition to the usual solemn speech from the stage, it makes sense to approach employees in order to personally express recognition for their contribution to the work. Also take an interest in what is happening in their lives. If someone is going through hard times, ask if you need any help from the company or not. This is a good way to show your employees that you care about them.
Afterword
There are a lot of people who can't stand corporate events. And there can be many reasons for this, for example, an unsuccessful past experience of attending such events. Ready to share personal stories? Can you remember the most memorable or wildest corporate holiday? Write your stories in the comments, I am sure that life is much more interesting than any, even the most daring fantasies.
For example, once at a corporate holiday in the company where I used to work, one of the guests of the event went into the river. The uncle simply got up from the table, went towards the river wave and disappeared. At first, no one understood what was happening and did not stop the walker. Well, the man went to the shore and went. Who knew that he would climb into the water. It was in the evening. The comrade did not return back, he did not answer the phone. I, who organized this celebration of life, HR, Security Service, the company's management and the accounting team in full force were shocked. The hair slowly acquired a noble gray color and prepared to leave our necks. By nightfall, guys from the Ministry of Emergency Situations came to us and, like in the cartoon βHedgehog in the Fog,β we shouted into the blind night: βHorse ...
The night was sleepless, thoughts black, prospects pale. All this continued until the moment when my uncle came to work. Rested and satisfied. It turned out that the man swam to the neighboring shore and went home on foot. The friend's phone, of course, did not survive the meeting with the reservoir and ordered to live long, so he was out of reach. Since then, corporate HR events near the water have been taboo.
PS With coming! The imperial child of revelry and the wildest intoxication to all Khabrovites in the New Year, for example.
Source: habr.com