How to Throw a Virtual Holiday Party (and Why it Matters)

The holiday party. It is a staple of workplace culture, almost to the point of cliche. Every sitcom that centers around a workplace includes at least one episode that occurs during a company holiday party. No surprise, then, that in a year when everything about business is a little different, holiday parties will be too. Just because you probably won’t be meeting in person, hanging the tinsel, and playing Yankee swap in the conference room, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t devote some time to a virtual holiday party. 

You see, the reason why holiday parties are a cliche is that they matter. The holidays are about being able to relax and reflect with those with who you’ve spent the year. While we often think about the holidays in light of our families, they’re also often about our work families as well. These are the people who’ve made a tough year tolerable, working tirelessly in the face of less-than-ideal circumstances. As a leader, it’s up to you to show your team members how much they’ve meant to you this year. A holiday party, even if it must be a virtual one, is a great way to do just that. 

But as we all know, a poorly run virtual get-together can be worse than none at all. How many of you have had to sit through a patience-testing family Zoom call this year? To avoid that dreaded fate, you have to build your party with the virtual format in mind. There’s no point in trying to take your standard party recipe and adapt to a virtual experience, as that will only create weird hitches and awkward moments. If you plan for a gift exchange, you have to rely on every team member to send an item to somebody well in advance of the event itself. Let’s be real: That’s probably not happening. 

Instead of relying on old standbys, find ways to keep people engaged over the new format. If you have a larger firm, it’s probably best to host separate parties for specific teams or create Zoom Breakout Rooms for the party itself. As you probably know by now, navigating a Zoom call with more than a dozen people is a nightmare. If you want to create moments that work for a big group, keep them to a minimum, and aim for maximum engagement. 

One great way to achieve this is to send a gift to everyone, which is to be opened simultaneously. Instruct team members to wait to open their package upon receiving it. This way, everyone will experience the surprise together. It’s a bonding moment and something that is perhaps more potent virtually. The more activities like that you can build into your party, the better. 

Another aspect of the holiday party you’ll have to replace is the food and drink. While you can slash the catering budget, it’s still on the host to make sure a party has great refreshments. Again, engagement is key here. You could, as an idea, give every employee $30 and tell them to order their favorite pizza. Everyone will have a different slice and a readymade topic of healthy debate. Another idea is to share a cocktail recipe, so everyone can enjoy the same punch, even if not from the same punch bowl. 

These are just a few ideas, but the underlying point I’m trying to express is that to have a great holiday party—and your team probably deserves one this year—you have to adapt to the strange circumstances of the year. You’ve already proven adept at doing that in so many ways, so you shouldn’t have trouble doing it in another small, fun, and crucial one. 

Happy holidays, everyone.