The organization of company evenings is one of the methods used to revitalize the level of employee involvement. The motivation of employees is one of the parameters that determine the success of business projects. Active listening and a pleasant working atmosphere go a long way in strengthening team spirit and creating a certain dedication to the task. A corporate evening, however, goes far beyond that. As long as it is well organized, by the company itself or with the help of an agency, this event consolidates in everyone the feeling of belonging to a whole, and the attachment to collective objectives.
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Occasions for a Company Party
If the benefits of organizing a company party are undeniable, the event may ring false if it does not take place on a suitable occasion. When the idea of the company evening springs up in the mind of the manager who wants to attract and retain their employees, they must then watch for the right opportunity.
1. Product Launch
A product launch offers a great opportunity to gather the whole team around a buffet. A collective victory to celebrate, the marketing of the fruit of several months or years of work creates the framework to show employees the recognition of the company and remind them that they play a crucial role.
2. Company Anniversary
The perpetuation of the company’s activities deserves to be celebrated by all employees. In order to celebrate the successes achieved, it is advisable to solicit an event agency to organize a team-building activity combined with a company evening.
3. End-of-year celebrations
How about showing your team members that you’ve enjoyed their work over the course of a year? A company that celebrates its employees with an end-of-year party, and eventually takes the opportunity to offer them gifts, lays a solid foundation to develop its employer brand in a sustainable way. Thanks to this initiative, employees will be inclined to describe their positive experiences on a trusted platform of reviews about companies.
4. Periodic After Work
Renting the largest venue is not a necessity to succeed in motivating your teams through corporate parties. Local restaurants or bars can host this type of event. All you have to do is retain a low frequency and involve your employees in the organization of each after work, possibly in turn. You will kill two birds with one stone: improve cohesion between colleagues through the team building that is the organization, and increase the degree of loyalty to the company.
5. Closing a Professional Event
When a company organizes a seminar or works council, it can conclude with a company evening bringing together employees and managers. On such an occasion, the whole team celebrates objective achievements, the definition of a new vision aimed at taking the company to the next level, etc.
How a company evening can motivate your team
Whether it’s a standing cocktail, a dinner at the table, or a simple after-work aperitif, company parties increase the level of motivation by acting on several aspects.
Stronger cohesion
How to weld your work team? While this question preoccupies many leaders, the corporate evening provides an effective solution. Whether an event agency is hired or not, employees always have a role to play when organizing a company party: choice of venue, selection of animations, etc.
By working together for the success of the event, they learn to support each other and combine their efforts to achieve a common goal. The time spent together during the evening also provides an excellent channel for informal discussions, ideal for weaving a certain spirit of solidarity. When they work in a supportive team, employees are more inclined to give the best of themselves.
Fulfilled employees will give their best
The primary goal of a company is to obtain profits sustainably. Nevertheless, energies should not always be focused exclusively on work. Team building activities (tourist visits, culinary workshops, etc.) and company evenings allow employees to escape and enjoy pleasant moments. Their well-being, a key component of quality of life at work (QWL), is positively impacted. When it is optimal, QWL, an element of the employer brand and employee loyalty, induces greater motivation. Following a works council evening after signing a new contract, for example, employees will feel proud to be part of the achievement of common ambitions and will be determined to continue on the same path.
What are the different types of corporate parties?
The definition of the type of corporate party to organize depends on the context, but also on the QWL budget or the team-building budget set by the company at the beginning of the year.
1. The cocktail dinner or aperitif
The cocktail is suitable for a product launch or fundraising party. During the cocktail reception, participants are usually standing. While chatting in a relaxed atmosphere, they enjoy wine, whisky or cocktails, accompanied by petit fours.
2. The sit-down dinner or gala evening
A company anniversary, an employee award event, or end-of-year celebrations are usually organized in the form of a sit-down dinner. During this type of corporate evening, a program is developed with animations, speeches, a complete gastronomic menu, etc.
During gala evenings, employees, managers, and possibly shareholders share the same meal. Such events are remarkable ideas to improve your employer brand; employees feel that they are important to their company.
3. The dance party
Dance parties are perfect for company parties organized at the end of the year. Entertainment is planned, a show is given, and the evening ends with a dance ball during which employees have fun and enjoy belonging to the company! Such an evening will certainly have the effect of raising their level of motivation.
Tips and tricks for a successful corporate evening
A successful corporate evening is one that goes off without a hitch and actually motivates the troops. The recommendations below will help you achieve this more easily.
Date and squad
The planning rules that apply to any project also apply to corporate party projects. The ideal would be to retain a date between 1 and 3 months at least before the event. The number of guests must also be defined as soon as possible, partly because it guides the choice of the venue that will host the evening. The budget is calculated based on this parameter and several others.
The place
While it is true that team-building activities and corporate parties are particularly interesting when they take place in an original setting, it is not necessary to have the whole team travel to New York, Singapore, or any other distant country. For your corporate evening, turn to rental rooms in your city of establishment. This contribution to the local economy will also be appreciated and will be useful for your CSR (corporate social responsibility) policy. If the evening must be held after other team-building activities, to accommodate them, choose a castle in Cannes, an outdoor space in Monaco, etc. Remember that the site is a major expense.
The theme and animations
Will it be a standard night or a theme night? In the latter case, identify the theme several weeks in advance, so that guests can retain the appropriate clothing. Also think as soon as possible about the animations that will punctuate the evening (photobooth, blind test, musical show, video projections, etc.). It will be easier for you to rebalance your budget and possibly inquire about renting the necessary equipment.
An organizing committee
Mobilize an organizing committee, which will oversee the organization of the event. If you initiated the evening in particular so that employees contribute to improving the brand image of your company, their involvement and motivation will be all the stronger if they play a role in the organization. The committee serves as a point of contact with claimants.
The budget
The whole corporate evening depends on the budget! Set a margin at the outset within which it should fall, or establish it based on the factors listed above. The estimated budget must be detailed.
As the organization progresses, all expenses incurred must be listed, in order to avoid overruns. After the evening, take stock of the money.
How to select professionals for the corporate evening?
Depending on the type of corporate party you are organizing, you will need to hire a master of ceremonies, a goodie supplier, a catering service, a DJ, etc. For all these providers, make a first selection taking into account the references of each (events on which they intervened), customer opinions, specialties, etc. Then, ask everyone for a quote and choose the one whose offer is the most complete at the best price. In case you are afraid of making mistakes, entrust the organization to an event agency that will recruit the providers and coordinate everything.
FAQs
When should a company party be organized?
It is recommended to organize a company evening on various occasions such as product launches, company birthdays, end-of-year celebrations, periodic after-work, or the closing of a professional event. These events celebrate successes, strengthen team cohesion, improve employer branding, and motivate employees.
What are the different types of corporate parties?
Corporate evenings can take various forms depending on the context and budget. These include cocktail dinners or aperitifs, sit-down dinners or gala evenings, dances, and theme nights. Each of these types of parties offers opportunities to strengthen motivation and cohesion within the team, as well as to improve the company’s brand image.
