1. Planning, time & budget: Assign organizing the party to the employee who has the biggest workload. Remember the saying if you want something done, ask a busy person! A couple of days notice and a twenty dollar bill should do it. In fact, for only $19.65 you can get a bucket of KFC plus a Keg of Liebefraumilche. 2. Invitations: Compose a quick scattermail. Christmas Party tomorrow -- be there or keep making sales calls your choice. For those people who dont celebrate Christmas (but maybe Hannukah or Ramadan instead) -- suggest they stay behind to clean out old files. If people want to invite kids or significant others, tell them that family members can be annoying. 3. Seating: Seat people with their regular office buddies so they can come up with funny names for the people they dont like in other departments. 4. Refreshments: If people get drunk make a note of the things they say and do, then remind them on Monday morning. 5. Activities: Ask the IT guy to get the party going. This could lead to some wonderful spontaneous activities like hacking the bosss private files, the sick joke contest, or paint ball with Correction Fluid. 5 Ways to Amp Up your Office Party In case you arent interested in the possible side effects of the above, here are some tried-and-true approaches to ensuring an enjoyable event. 1. Create a planning committee: Spread the organizing over several people. Ensure there is enough planning time and a big enough budget. However, do survey what employees would most enjoy. In general, people enjoy events where they feel inspired, included and appreciated. Remember -- substance is more important than flash. With creativity you can do a lot on a little. 2. Be inclusive: A Christmas party may alienate some of your staff. If people are from diverse backgrounds, have a more generic Holiday party. If you have an office party during the day, make sure everyone can attend. Do invite significant others and children for at least one office party a year. 3. Help them mix: Your company party may be the only time people get to meet the president, CEO or VPs in person, or people from other departments or locations. Make sure people dont spend the entire event with their regular office buddies. Enhancing workplace relationships at all levels can have a very positive affect on the bottom line, communication, enjoyment and overall morale. 4. Eat, drink and be merry in moderation: If you serve alcohol make sure you serve food at the same time. Include plenty of non-alcoholic drinks and healthy food options along with the usual treats. If people overdo it they may associate your party with negative feelings about what they did or said, or how they felt the next day. Provide other forms of "social lubricant" such as interactive mixers. 5. Hire a pro: To create the right atmosphere you might like to hire a professional speaker who knows how to bring people together respectfully and easily, and keep them laughing the whole time. |
