5 Tips for Planning a Stress-Free Holiday Party

Consider your audience

Do you run a multigenerational office, or is everyone around the same stage in their lives? Should you consider spouses, partners, and plus ones, or does it make more sense to have your guests fly solo? Is there an activity that all of your team members, despite differences, can do together?

Incorporate play

No matter who your audience is, they’re never too late to play! From board games to electronic gamification to classic icebreakers, there are so many to choose from. Don’t want to create a game? Try incorporating a team building company, taking your team to an experiential venue, renting games from a Board Game Cafe, or have everyone vote on their favorite childhood game and bring them to the party!

Have your guests be a part of the meal!

Culinary experiences are huge right now, especially classes or competition-style events. Work with your venue’s culinary team or hire a chef to come to your office, and see who wins your edition of “The Great Baking Show!”

Add something unexpected

Favors are so tired. That is, unless it’s something that your team will actually use in-office or at home. A client once bought customized, environmentally-friendly yoga mats for their employees after the company shifted its focus toward employee wellness. They could be kept in the office for weekly yoga classes, or used for all of their fitness needs.

Give back

The holidays are a time where everyone is focused on giving back. Consider partnering with a nonprofit and incorporating a team building activity, like wrapping gifts for local families in need, putting together holiday dinner meals, or even volunteering at a local shelter together! This is especially impactful if the entire team is on board, and if it’s something you can incorporate into your strategy year-round. After all, the holidays are not the only time of need!