How to Help Your Team Get the Most Out of Company Events

Typically, most employees dislike attending company events. 

In addition to being mundane, these events are unpopular with employees because the topics are nowhere close to their preferences. 

Because of this, employees find other essential activities to attend to when events are going on.

As a manager, you may find it challenging to convince the entire staff to attend. However, getting your team to show up at an event you’ve organized doesn’t have to be a chore.

Implement the following strategies to help your team get the most from company events.

 

Focus on Virtual Events

Most companies embrace events hosted on digital platforms because in-person ones are no longer practical due to coronavirus.

Still, that’s not the only reason why virtual events are incredibly popular.

Such events offer convenience for most people because you can attend them from any location.

By scheduling an event a couple of days or even weeks in advance, you’re giving your team adequate time to get ready for it. 

Be sure to share the plan with them beforehand to help make it even more engaging.

Nevertheless, even after informing your staff in advance, some members may still not be able to show up because an emergency appeared at the last minute and they had to deal with it. 

Others may fail to attend because of technology-related issues, and so on.

However, just because some employees were unable to be there doesn’t mean they can’t get a glimpse of what you discussed.

So, how do you ensure those who missed the virtual meeting still catch up?

Well, you can prepare a transcript and record the event and share it with those who missed the live event. That way, everyone will be in the loop.

 

Ask Employees What They’d Be Interested In

The best way to create an event they’ll want to participate in is to tailor your event strategy to your employees’ needs and wishes.

Engage your employees right from the planning stage. Everyone wants to be heard, and the best way to make your team feel valued is to ask them what type of events they’d prefer.

Some workers may want an opportunity to express themselves and interact with their colleagues. For that category of employees, workshops will make sense.

Others may prefer talks or lectures, and if that’s the case, you can share the event notes with one of the tech-savvy members of your team and ask them to help you compile the presentation.

Team building is also an everyday activity among companies. If most workers seem to favor team building, then make it part of the plan.

Bottom-line?

Involve your team in the event topics and even the mode of topic delivery. Most employees will suggest topics that they know will benefit them in their careers.

By involving your team and seeking their opinion on how they’d like the event to run, you’re engaging them right from the preparation phase. 

This step alone can encourage your employees to attend as they anticipate the implementation of the ideas they proposed. 

Furthermore, the level of engagement and participation during the actual event is likely to be high.

 

Make the Events Accessible to Everyone

Employees are different in many ways. Some don’t like to mingle with their colleagues after work, while others do. 

Some value their private time, such as religious holidays, and so forth.

Therefore, to ensure everyone finds the event accessible, you need to be tactical, and here’s how to do that.

• • Don’t Make Attendance Mandatory

Most employees will be reluctant to come to your event if you make it look compulsory, even if the activities you’ve planned would otherwise be engaging and fun. 

Some may be there unwillingly if you force people to attend, and their reserved attitude may ultimately ruin the energy of the event.

 

• • Host the Event on the Platforms Your Employees Prefer

Find out what platforms your team likes to use. Don’t rely on Google Meet while they all prefer Zoom, for example.

Every app has its upsides and downsides. So, the app you prefer may be what most of your staff dislikes. It all boils down to personal preference and user experience, after all. 

Weigh the pros and cons and do your best to go with what the majority prefer.

 

• • Live or Pre-Recorded

As earlier mentioned, it’s challenging to obtain 100% attendance for live virtual meetings. 

In spite of this, you want to ensure that everyone benefits from what was said. 

Therefore, have a plan to record the event and send it to those who didn’t attend the live one.

 

• • During Work Hours

Your team might be unwilling to turn up for a corporate event if you fail to hold it at the best time.

They might be tired, have other plans with their free time, or simply may not accept the idea of participating in work functions when there’s no remuneration for it.

Therefore, to make them attend, try to host your event during work hours. 

Additionally, don’t ask any person to attend the event while on vacation, or at times usually reserved for private commitments.

 

Final Thoughts

Marketing a corporate event can be challenging, as your team may not see the immediate value in it or may find it difficult to fit it into their busy schedule.

Convincing your team to create the time for a virtual meeting can be a chore, but it doesn’t have to be with the right strategy. 

Start implementing the above tips to see a significant improvement in your company event attendance and participation.