A staff holiday party can be an effective way to show your appreciation and build team morale. A successful holiday party is one in which your team members are having fun and not thinking about their professional duties, according to Katherine Lomax, president of Elegant Touches, an event planning company based in Edmonton.
“It’s an opportunity for guests to see each other socially, which is always refreshing,” she says, “and have an evening where you’re not worried about work.”
Lomax offers four tips to get your staff in a party mood:
1. Consider a theme
If holding your event at the office is your preference, you can do so with a festive tone rather than a business atmosphere. A theme that inspires some creative decorating can make your location “party central.”
You may decide to stick with the winter motif or think outside the season. For example, Lomax has planned holiday parties using masquerade balls and Alice in Wonderland as inspirations.
Visit a party supply store to see if any decorations inspire you.
2. Send detailed invitations
Although you see your staff every day, it is important to provide invitations detailing your plans. Indicate the appropriate dress code and what guests can expect in terms of dining. For example, will there be a three-course meal or do you plan on sticking with finger foods?
And don’t forget to add an RSVP option to your invitation. Many people forget this important detail, Lomax says.
“If financial advisors are hiring a caterer or they’re laying out money to do food,” Lomax says, “they have to have a realistic idea about how many people are coming.”
The RSVP element will also provide space for your team members to indicate any dietary restrictions or allergies that must be considered in determining a menu.
If you are holding your party outside of the office, be sure to provide details about the location — and not just the address. Guests appreciate when hosts provide details about parking, especially for crowded, urban areas, Lomax says.
3. Give gifts
A memento that is not work-related is a nice way to show gratitude for your staff’s hard work, Lomax says.
Leave your firm-branded baseball hats in a drawer. Instead, look for gifts that would look nice in their home, such as an elegant figurine or vase.
Personalize each gift with a card that expresses thanks and points out a specific trait that makes that person unique, Lomax says.
4. Add flair
If you want to provide some fun memories, Lomax suggests, rent a photo booth so everyone can take silly pictures and have them printed on the spot. A candy bar, where staff can fill up treat bags to bring home to the kids, is another possibility. Your guests will appreciate that you thought of their children.
This is the third part in a four-part series on holiday parties.
Next: Appropriate holiday gifts.