When planning a corporate get together, you need to get it right. At best, if it goes wrong, it could lead to a boring meeting; at worst, you could be called into your boss’s office for an explanation!
So, rather than panic about it, your first task is to get yourself organized, and know exactly what it is that you need to do in order to pull off a successful corporate meeting. In the following article you will be walked through some steps that you need to undertake whe planning a corporate event.
Hire Outside Caterers
First of all you need to think about the food. Whether the event is one day long, or if it is taking place over a weekend, you need to think about what everyone who attends is going to eat.
Rather than attempt to do this yourself, look into hiring corporate catering services. This will help to ensure that a professional spread is set out and that all dietary restrictions are catered for. It is also important to note that you probably won’t have to pay as much as you think you will, as many catering companies offer reductions when they are catering to groups over a set size.
Choose an Accessible Location
Now, onto the location. Assuming that it isn’t in the office where your company is located, you will need to choose somewhere that is accessible for all of the guests. This means there will need to be parking options and accessibility by train and bus—or even by tram in some cities.
If you are looking to book a location for a weekend event, you should look into nearby accommodation, but more on this later.
Set a Purpose
You need to have a purpose for your corporate event; are you looking into raising funds for the business? Or are you looking into celebrating an event, such as the corporation’s 50th year in business?
In addition, don’t set an event without a theme as you will have nothing to base the talks or the meetings on; even if it is a celebration of sustainability, which is worth having as a theme.
Look into Accommodation
As previously mentioned, if you are planning an event that is going to be over a weekend, you need to ensure that it is either close enough to the original place of work for guests to access the location, or you need to book a hotel. The latter is ideal in many instances, as hotels offer catering, meeting rooms, and after-hours entertainment for everyone who attends.
Delegate
You have to pull off the event or soirée, so, does that mean you have to plan it all yourself? In a word, no; that would be unwise and simply it is a bad idea! Be sure to delegate tasks to other staff members and make a note of who is responsible for what.
Check in as needed and oversee the other areas of the planning—but don’t micromanage. This will help you to develop your leadership skills, and will also help to minimize the stress you carry.
