We have just about had the worst year in history and now the staff are asking subtly about the year-end function?
Aside from the obvious reasons to have a party, there are actually plenty of benefits to year-end functions and whilst the mood may be low right now, its worth investigating some options that don’t need to be bank-breaking ventures.
Improved social interactions
Don’t underestimate the power of re-connecting after months of separation and remote working. Zoom and Teams meetings may be nice and chat is friendly, polite and respectful but you will never really get to know what kind of people you are working with this way. It’s also a great opportunity for your employees to discover things about each other so that they can move past the boundary of constantly wondering what it is each other actually does behind the computer screen.
When you have a more personal, but still professional, relationship with people who form part of every level of your company, it relieves any tension that may be routine in remote interactions. It makes business communication easier and more open. Improving social interactions in person can and will also improve the social interactions of the business with outside stakeholders.
Solidifying company core values
At a year-end function, the whole company is generally present. This means it is a great time to make a short and sweet presentation to reaffirm to everyone, the core values of your company and what you are all trying to achieve. This is not the focus of the function and should be followed by a quick recap of the year, which is essentially the motivation behind the event.
Brush up on your leadership skills training and present these findings and values as a casual conversation to match the tone of the chosen activity, venue or event. You don’t want to ruin the vibe or make people fall asleep, just get to the point and introduce the next section of entertainment. By doing this you can sleep happy knowing that your people are on the same page as you with regards what we have all been through and where we are going…
Increasing profit and productivity
Hosting a year-end function has the ability to reignite enthusiasm and find new motivation to make next year a better one. With this motivation, it will bring everyone together and hopefully ignite an increase in productivity and profitability. You need to show that you do indeed appreciate the work your team does!
A time to celebrate
If you have made it through this year, you deserve to celebrate. Nothing is as beneficial as having a reason to celebrate and have some fun while doing so. You and your workforce have earned the right to be rewarded for all the effort put into essentially keeping the business up and running for another year. Not only does this excite everyone, but it’s also team building in the sense that you get to know more about your fellow colleagues and have a good laugh at the same time.
