| 1. Planning, time & budget: Assign organizing the | | | | what employees would most enjoy. In general, |
| party to the employee who has the biggest | | | | people enjoy events where they feel inspired, |
| workload. Remember the saying - if you want | | | | included and appreciated. Remember -- substance is |
| something done, ask a busy person! A couple of | | | | more important than flash. With creativity you can do |
| days notice and a twenty dollar bill should do it. In | | | | a lot on a little. |
| fact, for only $19.65 you can get a bucket of KFC | | | | 2. Be inclusive: A Christmas party may alienate some |
| plus a Keg of Liebefraumilche. | | | | of your staff. If people are from diverse |
| 2. Invitations: Compose a quick scattermail. Christmas | | | | backgrounds, have a more generic Holiday party. If |
| Party tomorrow -- be there or keep making sales | | | | you have an office party during the day, make sure |
| calls - your choice. For those people who don't | | | | everyone can attend. Do invite significant others and |
| celebrate Christmas (but maybe Hannukah or | | | | children for at least one office party a year. |
| Ramadan instead) -- suggest they stay behind to | | | | 3. Help them mix: Your company party may be the |
| clean out old files. If people want to invite kids or | | | | only time people get to meet the president, CEO or |
| significant others, tell them that family members can | | | | VPs in person, or people from other departments or |
| be annoying. | | | | locations. Make sure people don't spend the entire |
| 3. Seating: Seat people with their regular office | | | | event with their regular office buddies. Enhancing |
| buddies so they can come up with funny names for | | | | workplace relationships at all levels can have a very |
| the people they don't like in other departments. | | | | positive affect on the bottom line, communication, |
| 4. Refreshments: If people get drunk make a note of | | | | enjoyment and overall morale. |
| the things they say and do, then remind them on | | | | 4. Eat, drink and be merry -- in moderation: If you |
| Monday morning. | | | | serve alcohol make sure you serve food at the same |
| 5. Activities: Ask the IT guy to "get the party going". | | | | time. Include plenty of non-alcoholic drinks and healthy |
| This could lead to some wonderful spontaneous | | | | food options along with the usual treats. If people |
| activities like hacking the boss's private files, the sick | | | | overdo it they may associate your party with |
| joke contest, or paint ball with Correction Fluid. | | | | negative feelings about what they did or said, or how |
| 5 Ways to Amp Up your Office Party | | | | they felt the next day. Provide other forms of "social |
| In case you aren't interested in the possible side | | | | lubricant" such as interactive mixers. |
| effects of the above, here are some tried-and-true | | | | 5. Hire a pro: To create the right atmosphere you |
| approaches to ensuring an enjoyable event. | | | | might like to hire a professional speaker who knows |
| 1. Create a planning committee: Spread the organizing | | | | how to bring people together respectfully and easily, |
| over several people. Ensure there is enough planning | | | | and keep them laughing the whole time. |
| time and a big enough budget. However, do survey | | | | |