Don’t fear the Christmas work do
Creating a memorable event your team will look forward to can be quite a feat, especially as many people will have their eye on the time off that comes with the holidays, not the annual work bash coming first.
And unlike regular office parties, a Christmas party requires everyone to be jolly together for several hours at a time, which might be a nerve-wracking experience for some.
The solution is to come up with an idea for your Christmas party idea so people can’t wait to attend. Following these first five tips will have you starting out for success.
Basics
❚ Avoid the usual sit-down-and-eat office party; get people moving about.
❚ Don’t party in the same building you work in; splash out on an off-site location.
❚ Don’t force people to take part in games or wear Santa/paper hats; let them choose when they’re ready.
❚ Don’t seat people according to their teams or department; it’s better for people to sit with friends of people they have a bond with.
❚ Ban all office politics or gossip. That’s why you need to party outside the office; you need that separation.
Theme
Try to create a real event out of your Christmas party. After all, your workmates deserve something special, having worked so hard the rest of the year. Here’s how to pull it off:
❚ Centre your party around an activity, like bowling, going to a comedy club, a theatre trip, or paintballing.
❚ Get a theme for your office Christmas party and give everyone the chance to dress up and show off their outfits. To encourage everyone to take part, add prizes or some kind of incentive. Try the 60s, 70s, or
80s. Finding second-hand clothes will be easier too, and they’re great eras for music and dancing.
❚ Add silly activities to the mix by adding as much playfulness as you can with games and even disposable cameras.
Mix it up
If your company budget won’t stretch to a lavish event, you can still change up your party by playing against the conventional. For example:
❚ Time of day: Most people expect an evening after-work party. Why not try an earlier time, such as lunch or a long breakfast? Changing the time can reduce resistance from your team about having a party.
❚ Time of week: If you prefer an evening party, host it later in the week so it’s a nice lead-up to the weekend.
❚ The size: This is up to you but larger parties always require more planning and supervision. Smaller affairs are less stressful, more intimate and cheaper to host.