Your office’s holiday parties are a great opportunity to build relationships between your team members. Time spent in the office only goes so far to familiarize people with each other. Holiday parties are a great way for your employees to cut loose and get to know each other on a more personal level.
This holiday season, think outside the box and treat your employees to an office holiday party they’ll never forget. Here are just a few aspects you should keep in mind when planning your party:
Setting is key. Hosting fun activities in the office can be an uphill battle. Employees spend so much time in the office. Why not treat them to a change of scenery? There are many fun activities you can offer up to your employees during the holiday season. Activities that get people moving are great to build fellowship between employees. Here is a short list of active activities that are great during the holiday season:
-Visit your local ice skating rink and have fun on the ice. (with hot chocolate of course!)
-Take a stroll around the neighborhood and sing carols to people who might be alone during the holiday season
-Shred the ski slopes and spend quality time in the chalet.
Gift exchanges are a tried and true tradition for office parties. Giving and receiving gifts builds friendships between your employees. Try spicing up your gift exchange with some added twists:
-Facilitate a baked goods exchange between everyone. Everyone loves sweet treats. Be sure to accommodate to any of your employees’ dietary restrictions if you decide to do this to avoid excluding anyone
-White elephant gift exchanges are an easy and fun way to exchange gifts. Have everyone buy something within a preset price range. The benefit of a white elephant gift exchange is that people who don’t necessarily know people in the office the best will likely still find someone that values the gift they gave.
-Office stocking gift exchanges are great because everyone gets to give everyone a little something. Provide your employees with stockings for their desks, and let people go around and fill each other’s stockings.
Entertainment for an office party can be just the flair you need to make your party unforgettable. You don’t have to break the bank to bring in entertainment either. Get creative with how you entertain your employees. Learn about your office’s interests and try to plan your entertainment accordingly.
-Holiday movie viewing is a fun and easy option for your holiday party. Pop some popcorn, gather some fun themed holiday snacks, and let everyone decide together on what movie they want to watch.
-Bring in a hired entertainer for your party and people are sure to enjoy themselves. Stand up comedians, magicians, and live music are popular options for holiday parties. A quick internet search can help you find an entertainer in your area. Don’t wait too long to book someone for the date of the party. The holidays are a busy time for people in this profession.
-Karaoke is really easy to set up, and doesn’t cost very much to execute. Gone are the days of buying an expensive karaoke machine. YouTube has a whole library of karaoke tracks for just about every song. Simply set up a tv or a projector and some speakers and get people singing. Getting your employees singing their favorite songs will be sure to get everyone smiling and laughing.
Good food is an old reliable way to foster fellowship. You can go down a couple different avenues for providing treats for the office during your holiday party.
-Potluck meals are an opportunity for your employees to share their traditional holiday foods with the rest of the office. Find out what people are bringing for the potluck to avoid everyone bringing the same thing.
-Host an office cookie decorating contest. This lets your employees get creative, and enjoy delicious holiday treats. It’s a win-win.
-Cater a meal from a favorite restaurant in your town. This option can be costly, but the impact of a great meal on your employees will be received well.
