DA Southern asked:
When I was in the corporate world, Company Party Planning was always that “Roll Your Eyes and duck when asked to organize” kind of thing. OK, so I usually took the reigns as I was realizing my calling as an Event Planner. I have seen my share of Company Parties and most are not pretty, so I will share what seems to be the biggest mistakes if you are not going to use an Event Planner to make it grand.
First is definitely the commitment factor of the people in charge. You have got to establish pretty quickly as to the budgetary constraints that will be put on you. Don’t even get involved if management just wants everyone to bring something from home, eat, and call it a Party. That is not a Party nor is it something you should organize.
Second, with a budget in place, is the committee you select to assist. Don’t get in the trap of doing it all yourself. Definitely not worth the pain, especially if the Party is deemed a “Dud.” Who do you think gets the blame even if no one was willing to work with you. You see, it is human nature to let others take the fall. It is kind of like listening to sports shows and have all of these “Arm-Chair” quarterbacks yacking on Monday what they would have done as a coach or whatever. Everyone is a critic, but the more people you get involved, the better chances that the criticism will be lowered. Don’t worry, there will always be someone there to criticize.
Third, don’t get caught up in past office practices, meaning don’t do the same thing you did last year because “That’s the way we always have done it.” Doomsday for an Event. I have seen countless charities repeat the same Event structure year after year and wonder why they can’t get new people interested in the Event. Shake things up and have some fun. Isn’t hat the very nature of a Party?
Fourth, have a definite structure to the Event. No matter what the size of the Event, give it some pazazz by having a schedule that is adhered to as far as performances, food time, dancing…whatever. Make it fun and keep it lose, but never give the impression that it is not planned.
Fifth, the food. This mistake is the most common and I don’t know why. Everyone goes to Parties for the food. It is where all of the talk centers and branches from. No matter what your company size, get a decent food budget at the outset. Employees will feel special knowing that their employer spent the extra on them in terms of food. I have heard many a comment after an Event where the employee commented on the food and how great it was and not on some bonus that they received.
You see, employees EXPECT bonuses, but not great food. That is a sheer pleasure.
There you go. Make your Company Party Planning a little more fun this year by avoiding these five common mistakes and you will have a better next year and may even be a hero to your employees.
Hector
When I was in the corporate world, Company Party Planning was always that “Roll Your Eyes and duck when asked to organize” kind of thing. OK, so I usually took the reigns as I was realizing my calling as an Event Planner. I have seen my share of Company Parties and most are not pretty, so I will share what seems to be the biggest mistakes if you are not going to use an Event Planner to make it grand.
First is definitely the commitment factor of the people in charge. You have got to establish pretty quickly as to the budgetary constraints that will be put on you. Don’t even get involved if management just wants everyone to bring something from home, eat, and call it a Party. That is not a Party nor is it something you should organize.
Second, with a budget in place, is the committee you select to assist. Don’t get in the trap of doing it all yourself. Definitely not worth the pain, especially if the Party is deemed a “Dud.” Who do you think gets the blame even if no one was willing to work with you. You see, it is human nature to let others take the fall. It is kind of like listening to sports shows and have all of these “Arm-Chair” quarterbacks yacking on Monday what they would have done as a coach or whatever. Everyone is a critic, but the more people you get involved, the better chances that the criticism will be lowered. Don’t worry, there will always be someone there to criticize.
Third, don’t get caught up in past office practices, meaning don’t do the same thing you did last year because “That’s the way we always have done it.” Doomsday for an Event. I have seen countless charities repeat the same Event structure year after year and wonder why they can’t get new people interested in the Event. Shake things up and have some fun. Isn’t hat the very nature of a Party?
Fourth, have a definite structure to the Event. No matter what the size of the Event, give it some pazazz by having a schedule that is adhered to as far as performances, food time, dancing…whatever. Make it fun and keep it lose, but never give the impression that it is not planned.
Fifth, the food. This mistake is the most common and I don’t know why. Everyone goes to Parties for the food. It is where all of the talk centers and branches from. No matter what your company size, get a decent food budget at the outset. Employees will feel special knowing that their employer spent the extra on them in terms of food. I have heard many a comment after an Event where the employee commented on the food and how great it was and not on some bonus that they received.
You see, employees EXPECT bonuses, but not great food. That is a sheer pleasure.
There you go. Make your Company Party Planning a little more fun this year by avoiding these five common mistakes and you will have a better next year and may even be a hero to your employees.
Hector
