I recently conducted an informal survey on what people hated most about their company holiday party. Of course, you expect people to complain about the food or the venue \u2013 and they did. They also complained about not allowing spouses (who are an integral part of an employee\u2019s success). If you allowed spouses, they then complained that you didn\u2019t allow the kids to attend. Some preferred getting money and recommended splitting the potential cost of the party as a bonus among employees. Yet there was one thing that kept topping the list \u2013 and that\u2019s how much people generally hated mingling with their coworkers. People had a surprising disdain for additional outside-work social time that required them to spend more time with people they couldn\u2019t stand. This was shocking to me and it should be to you. If your employees hate spending time with their co-workers, it means you have a serious morale problem and likely less than optimal earnings and an alarming turn around.<\/p>\n
The real goal is to have your employees love your company so much that they welcome to chance to meet in a social settings. Then again, not every company is Benchmark \u2013 whose company parties look like a clan of best friends who find it difficult to separate as the evening winds to an end. For companies riddled with petty squabbles, divisional rivalries, and departmental cliques, a holiday party can mean a step in the rehabilitated direction.<\/p>\n
The Location<\/strong>
\nWhere you host defines you as a company just as much as any other element of your party. Hosting as a cheap restaurant shows your team members you\u2019re not really invested in them. Alternatively, a restaurant with a high-price point isn\u2019t that impressive either. What really gets results is having great food at a great venue that allows people to mingle freely \u2013 one that encourages movement and conversation and helps build bonds while breaking down barriers. Think of a zoo, a museum, an aquarium, a lounge or club or even a more outdoorsy venue like a farm or an arboretum. It\u2019s creative, it\u2019s different, and it gets people excited.<\/p>\n