5 Tips to Plan Memorable Corporate Events Guaranteed to Strengthen Your Company’s Culture
Small and large businesses are facing similar challenges in today’s job market - employee retention.
While companies used to see a workforce that would hire on after college and stay until retirement, now they are facing two very serious challenges: Quiet Quitting and what is now known as The Great Resignation.
And though Americans still have to work to make a living, it seems that for many, it’s no longer enough to get a paycheck, a retirement fund, and health insurance.
They seek a job description that offers more than the basics to keep them happy and showing up to work.
They want the FULL PACKAGE.
Vacation days, sick days, bereavement days, flex days and every other kind of day available. They want holidays off and decent hours so they can be home with their families and have a life outside of work.
They want their bosses to know that they have lives outside of work and that those lives are not only respected but encouraged and honored.
People want to feel trusted in their roles and empowered to live up to the expectations set before them. They typically like to feel valued, connected, and impactful, and here’s the kicker…
Everyone wants to feel APPRECIATED.
Because as we now see, if companies don’t check off at least SOME of these extra boxes, people will do one of two things:
1. They will find a different job in a world of ever expanding opportunities.
OR
2. They will continue to work for your company but quietly quit.
So what is one (relatively) easy thing companies can do to create an environment that is more likely to retain employees?
Build. Company. Culture.
There are countless ways to go about building or strengthening company culture in your business (i.e. provide refreshments or a surprise lunch, allow flexibility in the work day, encourage collaboration, learn about them - and on and on and on.
BUT I have one easy way to build and strengthen company culture, and I have to say this is one of my favorites because I am an event planner afterall.
Throw a company event for your employees.
Depending on the culture you’re trying to create, there are various types of events that can be hosted throughout the year.
Some may include significant others, some may be employees only, and some may include the entire family. It’s not a bad idea to have a mixture of each one.
Maybe you host a holiday party, an employee appreciation event, a cookout, breakfast with Santa including employees' children, or maybe it’s a big fancy dinner party.
But plan an event each year (or a few) to show your employees a good time, and more importantly, to strengthen company culture by creating a lasting impression.
No matter what event(s) you decide to host, there are a few tips and tricks that I’ve learned over the last 27 years of planning corporate events that you should consider while planning.
Tips and Tricks to Elevate your Company Event
TIP #1: Include the +1.
For many employees, an invitation to a nice company event is enough of a treat, BUT at the minimum, encourage your employee to bring a +1. It shows your employees that you don’t just care about them, that you care about their life outside of work, and you care to get to know the people most important to them.
Inviting a +1 helps build a culture of inclusion, family, and connection. And if you’ve learned anything in this blog year, I sure hope it’s the realization that people want, and NEED, to feel connected to a company in order to commit for the long haul.
TIP #2: Splurge on quality food and drinks.
Have you ever gone to an event and thought, “Well, it was nice, but the food was terrible and the bar only had basic beer and wine options.”
Yea, me too.
And let me tell you, if the night begins with a blah dinner and basic drinks, the mood of the night starts off the same - blah and basic.
BUT if you begin the night with an excellent dinner and fantastic drinks, your guests will FEEL SPECIAL.
Surprise your employees with a special food truck like Dough Daddy Doughnuts.
If you don’t have the budget for a top shelf open bar, consider adding a few specialty cocktails with fun names focused around your company to add a personal touch.
When your guests feel special and a little spoiled by you, they will want to stay, eat, drink, and it will set the tone for a great night.
And whatever you do, don’t forget dessert!
TIP #3: Hire entertainment.
Band: Red Light Roxy playing at the Argonaut fundraiser event.
When you think about treating your employees to a fun night, do you imagine them sitting at tables quietly talking or do you imagine them enjoying a FUN (probably much needed) night out?
Encourage your guests to have a good time by providing entertainment to set the mood.
Jennifer Hardswick Music
Of course your entertainment will vary based on the type of event you’re hosting and your budget.
DJ’s are a budget friendly way to provide entertainment, dancing, and fun.
But if your budget allows, go for the live band.
If you hire the RIGHT band, they interact with your guests and bring your party to the next level.
There’s just something about a live band that brings a room to life and gets guests up to dance.
Planning great entertainment shows your employees that you put thought and effort into providing a fun night in their honor. It shows them you care if they have a good time, and that you appreciate them which of course, helps strengthen your company culture.
Surprising your guests with both entertainment and a surprise like the poker tables at this James Bond inspired event will be sure to impress.
TIP #4: Plan an element of surprise.
Have you ever seen a girl serving drinks or appetizers from her dress?
This doubles as a form of entertainment and an element of surprise, and it can definitely be a WOW moment at your company event.
Another fun surprise to show your employees appreciation is a small gift.
It could be a surprise that the valet secretly places in their car so it’s waiting for them, or it can be a little token of appreciation at each seat.
But if you want to help promote the company on social media while entertaining employees, AND give a gift all at once, go for the photo op wall.
Photo “booths” have come a long way over the last 10 years. Now, you can have a selfie stand (stationed in front of a photo op wall) that texts the photos to your guests with your company logo, the event name, and/or the year.
This allows employees to post photos to social media (under the event/company hashtag) and shows their following how awesome your company culture is.
Take it one step further by providing a little gift - a simple frame for their photo with the company name and event title as well.
TIP #5: Hire a photographer.
Right now you may be thinking it’s silly to have a photo op wall and a photographer, but I promise you, for the good of your business marketing, it’s not silly. The photographer will capture moments that the photo op can’t.
They will document the entertainment, the gifts, the dinner portion of the evening, the music, the dancing, people mingling, and more.
Those moments are a marketing department's DREAM.
Photos like that scream, “Look how much we care about our employees” and provide plenty of images for social media and websites to further showcase the amazing company culture you have built.
Have I convinced you yet? If not, here are my final two cents.
A yearly corporate event may cost you some money upfront, but it will save you money long term when you lessen your employee turnover rates, and it can actually MAKE YOU MONEY.
When your employees are happy with the culture at work, they become more productive, passionate, invested employees who will go above and beyond for YOU.
And here’s an extra little secret, you don’t even have to plan it yourself.
Corporate event planners like me have years of experience in planning these types of events so that you can wow your employees AND enjoy the night too.
Follow Sterling Events on Instagram and Facebook for more inspiration and great ideas.
