Tina Ray posted on November 22, 2011 15:01
It's beginning to look a lot like the holiday season—and a time to celebrate with friends, colleagues, and other connections.
How do you plan holiday parties that achieve your goals and keep things organized? Here are a few questions to consider:
What is your goal? To thank employees, clients, or vendors? To make a splash in the community? To have a good time? To have more time to schmooze with potential contacts?
Which holidays? How closely linked to religious aspects of the season? Only you know what your organization is comfortable with. You might decide Santas and dreidels are okay, but creches and menorahs are out, for example.
Who will you invite? How? There's a lot of room for creative invitations, outreach to the media, promotions leading up to the special day. Or you might go for a simple e-mailed invitation. We do suggest a RSVP list, though, to keep yourself apprised of how many people to expect.
Will you record the event? Sharing photos or video online is a great way of bringing those who couldn't attend into the celebration and building into your social media reputation.
How will you create "Wow!" or a unique flavor? How will you stand out from other holiday parties, so that people make room in their schedule for yours?
How will you enable effective mingling? Conversation areas? Cocktail tables? Silly icebreaker activities?
What food and drink will you provide? One big question is whether you'll provide alcohol. If you do, be sure to hire trained bartenders to ensure your guests are kept safe from overserving.
What entertainment will you provide? Just mingling? Music? Other activities? You might, for example, work together to make a difference in the community.
What decorations will you use? This is closely linked to what holidays/what aspects of the holidays you're incorporating. One piece of advice: Use what you have and what you are to decorate and keep people engaged. Around here, it means video screens showing interesting work. In your place of business, it might mean tinsel on machinery.
Happy holidays—whatever that means to you!