Article
Festive Dos and Don’t
Office Christmas Party Ideas
Kudzai Machingawuta
It’s that time of year again, as December fast approaches, so does the annual Office Christmas party. Here at Growthonics it’s something to look forward to, but we understand for those planning the party, it can sometimes prove to be a minefield to navigate.
Employees are the heart and soul of any business
An end-of-year office Christmas party should be a chance for everyone to come together and celebrate the year. It is more than just an event. The end-of-year work Christmas parties promote stronger bonds between individuals in and around the workplace, bringing about a more focused drive to succeed and grow together.
Remember, for a company to function well, all the pieces of the puzzle must be in alignment, and the well-being of the employees must always be a priority regardless of it being a busy time. Recognising your employees for their hard work and effort will only benefit the company even further. Employees will feel valued, appreciated, and ready to go headfirst into the next year.
Struggling to plan
Corporate events are becoming a thing of the past for end-of-year Christmas celebrations and have a tendency of being a bit stale, so try to liven it up with some abstract ideas. Remember, this only happens once a year, so you don’t want to disappoint.
Yes, the admin of organising the event might be hard, but giving your employees something to look forward to after an exhausting year, only brings about positive energy. These past twenty-four months have been hard, nobody could’ve predicted this, so encourage your employees to loosen up a little, put on their Santa hats, and enjoy the Christmas season.
Without further ado, let’s get into the office Christmas party ideas
Aren’t we bored of the typical soiree dinner hosted just before Christmas? Why not consider switching it up? Come let’s have some festive fun! Remember, don’t worry about finding the perfect Christmas party venue, you can even do it in your own office space.
Ugly Christmas Jumper Party
Originally thought to be from Scandinavia, traditionally Christmas jumpers were knitted sweaters styled with a Christmas or winter theme. As everyone likes to channel their inner fashionista, creating a “fashion show” for employees to create their best look will create an exciting and enjoyable night, within the party budget.
It doesn’t need to be anything fancy; you can buy some sweaters from a thrift store or ask employees to embellish their own. Once they have created their garments, host a runway show and pick the top three and present each of them with a gift. It is a great exercise for employees to come out of their shells and show their inner selves.
Virtual Office Christmas Parties
A Virtual Christmas party is a group celebration conducted online via video conferencing platforms such as Skype, Zoom, and Google Meet. If your company is operating under Covid restrictions, this virtual option should help to keep the Christmas spirit alive.
If possible, staff should be encouraged to pick a card or buy a small gift for a coworker according to the Christmas theme. This should help employees be more motivated to come back to the office when restrictions are lifted post festive season.
Secret Santa
A great idea for a work Christmas event is a Secret Santa party. This is where work colleagues exchange Christmas presents anonymously. Names are picked randomly to become someone’s Secret Santa, along with a gift cost limit agreed in advance.
What’s perfect about this idea is that it works for a traditional office party and a virtual party. It may not be an epic office Christmas party happening physically in the same room, but sharing this moment with your colleagues will be just as meaningful, even if it is virtual.
Christmas Party Scavenger Hunt
A Christmas scavenger hunt is where colleagues or teams find gifts/sweets that have been hidden throughout the office. Like all light-hearted games, it should be simple and easy to play, allowing everyone to participate.
These team-building games are great ways to build team spirit and togetherness in the camp and it brings out the cheeky, fun, and competitive side of all employees. To make it interesting, up the ante and put a wager on the winning group.
Christmas Murder Mystery Party
If time and money is no object, why not go all out with a Christmas Murder Mystery themed office party? This kind of party does require a lot of planning.
There’s the surprise death scene, story arc, investigation and, of course, the dramatic reveal to work out. But, if you’re up for the challenge, a successful Murder Mystery party will provide colleagues with a fun and enjoyable night to remember.
Office Christmas Party Dos and Don’t
Whilst everyone may be up for celebrating, it’s important not to overdo it. Remember that this is a professional environment, so, here are a few rules if you are going to attend the office Christmas party.
Make the effort
Partying isn’t for everyone, and no one should be forced to do something they’re uncomfortable with. But sometimes it’s good to go outside one’s comfort zone. So, if someone can go, they should be encouraged to do so, even if they are shy to jump on the dance floor.
It may just be a party to you, but it is a time where the whole office can be themselves and socialise together. People may make new friends and what’s important is, your co-workers will appreciate you taking time out to make the effort.
Enjoy yourself (in moderation)
You might have worked your socks off the whole year, but you shouldn’t be getting too excited. Sure, this may be the one night where you can let loose, blow off some steam, and celebrate. However, just keep in mind that you don’t want to be remembered as the only person who had too much mulled wine and had to be helped home. To put it simply; if you feel like you’re going to embarrass yourself, drink some water and order yourself an Uber.
Try socialising, speak about something other than work
Admittedly, it is a difficult one to avoid, especially being surrounded by people you work with every day, but it is a good idea to talk about something else other than work. People will feel a lot more comfortable and it increases positivity and wellbeing within the workplace environment. Oh, we almost forgot, don’t be the one who spends the whole night on their phone!
Don’t gossip or mention grievances
Gossip is the lowest form of conversation and has no place in the workplace any time of year. A Christmas party is supposed to be a fun time for people to unwind and enjoy each other’s company, so leave the gossip and work grievances at home.
Always be polite and respectful of others
The corporate Christmas party is still in a professional environment, regardless of the location. It’s a night to celebrate the year amongst colleagues, so remember to be in control of exactly what your alcohol intake is and be always respectful of others.
Finally, remember to have a good time
Whether you’re having a Christmas Jumper Sweater party or attending a Virtual Christmas party, it should be about celebrating the year with colleagues and having an enjoyable time.
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