As you’re (very well) aware, we’ve had to adapt to a lot of workplace changes over the last 3 years.
While it was once the default to coordinate in-person celebrations and events with our teammates in the office, we were quickly forced to find innovative ways to say connected virtually.
Now as we enter the 2022 holiday season, we’re tasked to appeal to the hybrid model: some folks in the office, and others from a webcam (and hopefully with reliable wifi).
So, how do you host an engaging holiday party that serves both audiences?
How can you ensure your remote folks feel included, and the party doesn’t feel split?
Here are our top tips for hosting a holiday party for a hybrid team.
#1 – Prioritize Inclusivity
Hybrid parties require an extra touch of inclusion. After all, you don’t want your work-from-home friends feeling like they’re missing out, and you don’t want those in-person to feel as though they should have just stayed home.
With the holiday season in full force, consider all the different holidays your team celebrates and make sure not to assume. The holiday season celebrates much more than just Christmas, like the end of the year and what’s to come.
Focus your planning efforts on inclusivity of all different beliefs and work styles. Your team deserves to feel considered and included (and so do you)!
#2 – Choose Variety
Regardless of where someone’s desk is, there’s one universal truth: we all like different things.
Some of your colleagues may love icebreaker chats over a cocktail, whereas others may prefer a directed activity that lets them skip over the small talk and focus more on working (and playing) together as a team.
There’s no right way to socialize, so when planning a party for your organization, no matter the format, be conscious to appeal to both the introverts and the extroverts in the room.
#3 – Get Interactive
We’ve all been to a holiday party that feels more like an obligation than entertainment.
After all, most people already have a routine of watching holiday movies at home and being forced into uncomfortable conversations with distant family.
Avoid replicating this when planning your company’s holiday party by finding ways to get people feeling connected and most importantly, having fun!
Try these:
- Decorate the office, and encourage others to show off their home decorations too.
- Ask your colleagues to dress up in festive attire; get everyone involved and proud of their outfits.
- Provide food and drinks for the whole team! (For those tuning in at home, we recommend using Hoppier to send gift cards to places like Grubhub, so everyone can dig in!)
- Get everyone involved. Once one person snoozes on camera, you run the risk of hosting nap time instead.
Celebrate the Holidays with Kabloom!
With our virtual and hybrid holiday parties, we prioritize offering multiple options for your team.
For smaller teams, consider Snow Day – an intimate event allowing time for sharing and reflecting on the year, and celebrating with your teammates.
For larger teams, we’ve designed The Holiday Miracle, a modern holiday variety show, or Winterfest, a choose-your-own-adventure holiday event with a variety of events at once, so there’s something for everyone!
Your remote team members will join the event via Zoom from wherever they are, while your in-office team will join from dedicated room(s) in the office. Easy as that.
Ready to Kabloom? Just a couple of decisions!
- Hop on a call with one of our amazing event organizers (hint: click here).
- Choose a date and time for your event.
- Send out a save-the-date.
- Kick back and let us do our thing, so you and your team have a great holiday party!
Have any questions?
Contact us today to learn more about how we can curate the perfect event for your hybrid team!
Happy, Happy Holidays From Kabloom!
