What you need to know when planning a holiday party
The corporate holiday party has evolved dramatically over the last couple of decades. What was once the obligatory steak dinner and gift exchange has lost its luster with employee teams.
This now leaves managers wondering what to try next. Mixed generational teams have caused a shift in the holiday party, encouraging their management to explore experience based party concepts. The corporate planning and event industry has seen a similar shift in experiential activities creeping into everything from meetings, to expos, to weddings and more. This trend finds its root in the desire for companies, especially those with a higher percentile of remote workforce, to not just gather for a party but to use those opportunities for team building.
Good news for Chicagoland teams is that both Chicago and the suburbs boast a plethora of options for companies looking to try these unique, corporate party experiences. Options range in cost but all have one thing in common - a focus on entertaining and building relationships with our teams.
Easily one of the hottest trends this season, teams are channeling their pent up frustrations and blowing off some serious steam with axe throwing lessons.
Yes, you read that right. Teams are opting into this comfort zone bending activity and loving the team building results. Other ways to explore this concept include escape rooms and even rage rooms.
If intense passion is not your teams thing, try a more artistic approach to expression and team building with a paint and sip party. Not commonly associated with corporate entertainment, local paint and sip companies offer creative options for small and mid-size teams during the holidays.
Consider having your team paint a mural canvas to hang in the office, design artwork to give to clients as gifts, or let each employee express themselves in their own work of art that they can take home.
A high stress work life can leave employees feeling burned out going into the holidays, hence creating the season's next hottest trend of mindful experiences. Best for smaller teams, consider going Zen with a backlight yoga party, aerial yoga class or even goat yoga. For more established teams, take this trend a step further with a full on spa day or spa services.
Frequently forgotten, the fall and winter seasons offer excuses for you and your team to get out into nature and de-stress from the office grind.
Consider having a fall festival at your favorite park or forest preserve for employees and their families. For adrenaline seeking teams you might consider a high energy outdoor sport like snowboarding, skiing or snowmobiling.
Adventure seeking may not be right for every company team. Your company may not want to opt out of the dinner format. However, hosting a more traditional style dinner does not mean you need to miss out on these experiential trends.
Spin your dinner into an event your employees will remember by utilizing out-of-the-box venues or event themes. Working with a local planner to host a karaoke championship, casino night, rock concert, or company themed murder mystery dinner will take your tired steak dinner to the next level.
Above all, remember that your holiday party celebrations are not about pleasing everyone on your team, but about allowing your team to grow and celebrate together.
• For more information, contact Anna Marie Imbordino at info.chicagobuzz@gmail.com.