Planning The Perfect Corporate Event: Why It’s So Important And How To Get It Right

For many older workers or those who’ve watched a lot of movies set in the 80s and 90s, corporate events invoke images of musty conference rooms full of people in suits watching a PowerPoint presentation.

Younger workers might imagine that corporate events are similar to what they saw in shows like WeCrashed, about the ill-fated WeWork and its legendary summer camps. Billed as fun events with live music performances, craft activities and yoga classes, the camps were mandatory and often highly stressful for the workers who attended them. It can be incredibly difficult to simulate enjoyment, and some team members found these gatherings difficult to cope with.

Each of these styles of corporate events is a valid example, as both have been offered in the past. However, in the modern workplace, employees need more than dry presentations or forced fun. With increasing numbers of employees working in remote or hybrid roles, getting together and engaging as a group is now more important than ever before.

When done right, corporate get-togethers can be a great way to enforce a supportive, positive internal culture and help team members to connect with one another. These meetings can also help you to connect with your staff and learn more about them outside the working environment. On the other hand, when they’re done poorly, company gatherings can be an expensive waste of your company’s valuable time and resources.

Workers are already wasting as many as 5 days each year in pointless meetings, so a badly managed company meet-up could be an even bigger drain on your team’s time if you get it wrong. For business leaders who want to leverage their corporate events and make sure that their team gets the most out of them, we’ve created this handy article. It’ll explore how you can set the agenda for the perfect event that benefits your staff and your business.

Make A Rough Itinerary

Planning and preparation are key to any successful corporate gathering. While you can be overprepared for some events, you can’t really do too much prep when it comes to managing a business meet-up. Even though some things are out of your hands, with a robust itinerary, you can ensure that everyone knows what they’re done and when they’re doing it. You’ll then reduce the chances of things going wrong or people being unsure of what’s happening. Having a rough schedule of events will also make your team feel more relaxed, as they’ll know what’s happening and feel more in control.

Pick A Neutral Location

For businesses with offices or other workspaces, such as retail outlets, it’s crucial that you select a neutral location for your corporate gathering. Meeting up with your staff at their place of work might feel too formal and make it harder for them to work collaboratively and express themselves. If you want to plan a gathering that your staff will enjoy, so that you can get the best out of them, then choose a place that’s neutral. Many hotels and other venues have conference spaces that you can hire, so you can find somewhere for your staff to meet and collaborate.

Consider Some Fun Entertainment

Corporate events aren’t all about work- there should always be something fun in there as well. While team-building exercises and other practices can be enjoyable, you should also set aside some of your budget for entertainment that is entirely frivolous and designed to make the meet-up fun for everyone. One inventive option for your corporate entertainment is to hire a magician. Adam Vee is a corporate magician based in Hertfordshire who works with a wide range of companies to create sets that are engaging and filled with inside jokes and unique tricks. With his help, you can make the event memorable and have some fun with your team.

Cater For Everyone

Like any event, at a business meet-up, the food is what everyone talks about. Whether the gathering only lasts a few hours, or goes on for a couple of days, you need to lay on some form of food for your teammates. For shorter corporate gatherings, this might just be nibbles and drinks, or a light lunch. If you’re hosting a longer event, then you may need to plan meals for your guests to share. Dining together is a great way to bond further with your staff, but you need to make sure that there’s an option to suit everyone. So, you should ask about food allergies and dietary restrictions early on in the planning stage, and make sure that there are suitable options available for everyone. You can all then enjoy communal meals and talk together while you eat.

Take On Board Any Feedback

Most of your team will have an opinion on the event, and how well it went, so you need to ask for insight and make the most of their experiences to improve the organisation of future events. There are several techniques you can use to ask for feedback, so explore your options to see which one will work best for you. With some insight into how the event was perceived, you can make changes to your preparation in the future, so that upcoming corporate gatherings are more beneficial for your staff. Equally, if there are areas that your team enjoyed and found useful, then you can make sure that these are included in any further plans for more meet-ups.

Enjoy Yourself

Remember, it’s your corporate event as well as your staff’s. So, once all the hard work and planning are done, you need to try and relax and have fun. Try to get the most out of any entertainment or speakers you’ve hired, and take the time to chat with your staff and revel in any positive feedback you get. Articles like this one should help you to understand how important your corporate gatherings are and plan them as effectively as you can. With all the preparation done, you can sit back and enjoy the fruits of your labours. Have a great time at your corporate get-together!