A great holiday party is a well-rounded, well-planned event that serves as a “thank you” to whoever it’s for, be it employees, vendors or clients.
“It’s important that you show your guests that you put a great deal of thought into the event,” says Todd Schafer, president of Crooked River BBQ + Beer.
He says the overarching impression guests should take away is that they are being served — they work hard or have been loyal, so now it’s your chance to give back to them.
Smart Business spoke with Schafer about the essential elements of business holiday parties that make guests feel appreciated.
What kind of food works best at holiday parties?
Serving multiple courses will help stretch out the evening and keep the eating going. In keeping with the theme of serving and taking care of them, provide a served or plated meal instead of self-serve. Family style, which features large serving bowls or plates that are passed around the table, works well and can symbolize the marriage of the co-worker-to-family relationship.
You could also construct different food stations that offer a range of meal choices. That can include a carving station, loaded potato bar, caramel apple bar and other fun, interactive options that keep people engaged.
Any tips on activities or decorations?
Decorate to who you are. Make sure the venue and its look matches your corporate culture. If you’re a construction company, find a way to incorporate that into the service, like serving a potato bar out of a backhoe’s bucket.
Include interactive games that offer ways your guests can meet with and learn about each other. Assign seating so they can mingle with people they don’t work with directly and have a plan for the entire evening that includes activities, speakers and games to keep the night moving.
Should a holiday party have alcohol?
Alcohol is welcome at a holiday party because the party is meant to be fun. There shouldn’t be business interactions, dealmaking or the like. This is a night that everyone is off the clock to share a drink with the boss, meet families and deepen relationships. It’s better that guests don’t bring their own alcohol or meet for drinks before the event, however.
What can go wrong and how can those things be avoided?
Running out of food can be a disaster. Too much food is better. You don’t want to give the impression that you cut corners, so over order.
Establish a budget for the event that’s palatable. Know, however, that your employees, and often your customers, know what you spend, so showing them you’re not spending as much as you could can be bad. If it feels cheap then it brings up an unhealthy dialogue and becomes a joke.
How far in advance of the party should the planning begin?
Set up a committee or group to plan the party, if possible one that comprises someone from every department. You’ll get preferences from the partygoers and you can spread out the work so as not to disrupt productivity too much.
Start planning the next holiday party shortly after the current year’s holiday party. Discuss what was good and what wasn’t while it’s still fresh. Then regroup midyear to start planning within that year’s budget.
Setting a venue should be among the first elements to be determined because you’ll need to discuss details with the venue’s representative. Then you can start choosing the menu and layout. Closer to the party, email employees to get them looking forward to it.
What if the company has a tight budget?
A holiday party can be inexpensive without feeling cheap, though it may take more work internally to make it special on a tight budget. Consider doing a potluck dinner, which emphasizes family. Shorten the party hours so the venue doesn’t charge as much.
Your employees give you 2,100 hours of their lives every year. You’re gifting them these few hours of your time, so the thought and creativity involved goes a long way.
Insights Executive Catering is brought to you by Crooked River BBQ
