The covid years reminded us all of the importance of real encounters, which suddenly disappeared. After those exceptional times, the number of employee events organized by companies has returned to normal and even slightly increased. The significance of employee events is on the rise, and there is a reason for it. The power of face-to-face encounters and the energy and results they generate, are truly impactful.
Whether you're organizing a strategy launch, annual celebration, kick-off, or Christmas party, we have compiled some key principles for a successful employee event that you shouldn't overlook:
- Start with the objective! Consider what you want to achieve with the employee event and decide on the theme, content, and framework based on that objective. Don't be at the mercy of schedules or logistics; start planning in advance so you can adjust the timing and logistics as needed to align with your objective.
- Know your target audience! Plan and organize an event that reflects your own staff. Be bold, dare to try new things, break boundaries, and remember to consider the diverse needs of your employees. If you're unsure, it's worth asking what your staff expects from the events. Inclusivity and personalization don’t go unnoticed and resonate with participants.
- Leave room for interactions, and don't cram the agenda with too much stuff! When one of the objectives of an employee event is to facilitate colleagues' meetings and networking, achieving that is impossible if the day is filled with lectures. Guided or unstructured free time, extended breaks, or group activities promote networking and reduce information overload.
- Measure success and the right things. Based on the results, you can verify what changes and what outcomes the event has achieved. Often, there are ways to measure the starting point before the event, then the final measurement after the event clearly shows the change. The results help in improvement for the future: where did we succeed, and is there still room for improvement in some areas?
- Don't start too late! While objective-driven planning was mentioned first, there are often realities we have to live with: venues, headcounts, and transportation needs. If you still want to ensure successful celebrations, Christmas parties, or even strategy days for your company for the end of the year - NOW is the time to get started!
There are, of course, many other ways to ensure a successful employee event, and at Tapaus, we are familiar with almost all of them. If you want us to dig into your employee's needs, don't hesitate to get in touch, and we'll help you get started on planning a meaningful and impactful event!
* This article has been translated from Finnish to English using ChatGPT.
Hannu Takala Commercial Director +358 50 376 1076 hannu.takala@liwlig.fi
