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 wonโ€™t be meeting in person, hanging the tinsel, and playing Yankee swap in the conference room, doesnโ€™t mean you shouldnโ€™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 youโ€™ve spent the year. While we often think about the holidays in light of our families, theyโ€™re also often about our work families as well. These are the people whoโ€™ve made a tough year tolerable, working tirelessly in the face of less-than-ideal circumstances. As a leader, itโ€™s up to you to show your team members how much theyโ€™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. Thereโ€™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. Letโ€™s be real: Thatโ€™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, itโ€™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. Itโ€™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 youโ€™ll have to replace is the food and drink. While you can slash the catering budget, itโ€™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 Iโ€™m trying to express is that to have a great holiday partyโ€”and your team probably deserves one this yearโ€”you have to adapt to the strange circumstances of the year. Youโ€™ve already proven adept at doing that in so many ways, so you shouldnโ€™t have trouble doing it in another small, fun, and crucial one. 

Happy holidays, everyone. 

 
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