Corporate gatherings should not be left until the last minute but rather should be calculated for maximum efficiency. The best companies know to install a system for staff gatherings to keep employees engaged and clientele impressed, and companies to strategically schedule gatherings.
The goal is to have corporate events spread evenly over the four seasons, and to utilise what each quarter naturally brings to the table for corporate events.
Spring: The Best Time to Team Build (March – May)
Spring is the best time for corporate team gatherings, as the weather is warming up, people are more socially active, and their is a change to get out doors and shake off the negativity that the colder months can bring. If you have a corporate staff event on the calendar, now is the time to promote it and get people outdoors to socially interact in a new environment, as a corporate team.
Choose events that don’t require extreme fitness as the goal is to get people to work as a team, and to not feel like it is a punishment. Some good examples include firm sporting events such as softball, and larger company events, like company orienteering and sporting days. This is a great time to schedule corporate team building events to increase the participation of staff and to get people ahead of the work load to destress in the outdoors.
If your audience doesn’t like spending time outdoors, consider choosing something like a spring cooking class, a pottery workshop, or an art session for a creatively inspired springtime activity. No one has to worry about getting muddy, and something about springtime makes people more open to trying new things.
Also, think about some upcoming client events. Spring lunches or garden parties are a great choice and are a nice touch, especially when they don’t have to worry about holidays coming up. They’ve got an added bonus, too: they are often cheaper and more available than they will be in busy autumn months.
Summer is a great time to finally come around to rewarding your staff and showing your appreciation, especially just before people scatter for holidays. It’s the relax part of the year, so you want to make these events feel like a reward for the staff rather than a chore for them. This is when garden parties, rooftop socials, and BBQ events are great to host.
A casual, outdoor setting is a perfect way to break down some interdepartmental walls that often keep people in silos. They’ve got a more relaxed atmosphere, allowing people to naturally chat with each other rather than just micromanage a single task. Getting an easier opportunity like that to have teamwork is something people often enjoy.For client appreciation, you get the chance to think outside the box. Sporting events, open-air theatres, or private outdoor venues allow you to show hospitality in a way that creates more memorable experiences to strengthen the business relationship. Just remember, there should be a contingency plan for rain – this is Britain, after all.
For a more disbursed teams, summer is the best opportunity to get the whole team together for the annual company get together. The weather is nice, people are generally in better moods, and it is easier to fit in some leisure time around the gathering for people who are travelling a little further.
Autumn: Conferences, Strategy, and Recognition (September – November)
September is the start of a new “school year” and the back to school momentum that is great for corporate. People come back from their summer holidays, it’s time to get back to focus, and the autumn is more suited to the more serious events like your conference season, strategy days, and planning for the year ahead.
Conferences and seminars are a natural fit for your Autumn. The xmas rush hasn’t started and the visibility of the team is high, which means events are easier to plan and execute. If you are planning to host or attend, now is the time for venues and suppliers to be busy, but not overwhelmed.
Autumn is awards season. The timing is perfect for both internal achievements recognition and hosting industry awards. It’s the perfect distance from Christmas so the event isn’t overshadowed, but also close enough to the holidays so that the achievements are relevant and feel timely.
And don’t forget team building for the autumn season too. It just looks different from spring. Things like escape rooms, quiz nights, and innovation workshops work well for the darker nights. This is also when you might run development days or training sessions to get teams geared up for success for the last quarter.
Winter: Celebration and Connection (December – February)
Winter is of course dominated by the Christmas parties, but there’s more to this quarter than just the festive celebrations. December is when you bring teams together for that end of year party, but how you approach it is important to think about. The more traditional sit down dinners are being replaced by more interactive experiences like cocktail masterclasses, casino nights, and themed parties that give people something to discuss beyond the usual office small talk.
No one really thinks of events in January and February because they often get overlooked, but they are great time for events as well. Knowing how to plan and location of events in January and February are great opportunities for new year planning meetings, to set goals, and do team building. Its a great way to get rid of the January blues. January events show the team that their hard work and achivements don’t got unrewarded even if the new year there is no new goals that need to be set.
Events for clients in January can as well fill in the quiet time. January clients event is appreciated because everyone else is busy sending a Christmas card and sending it. This clients January event that can be a coffee morning or lunch in February is a courtesy to show that the relationship is in working order and isn’t neglected even in the holiday season.
You Got This
It can be a bit of a juggling act when it comes to managing events. Its rare to have a quarter with no events planned, and in that quarter have 3-4 major events. Id recommend working in your team building events to your client events, and moving some events around for your budget and structure of the year as a whole.
Giving yourself a window to prepare is a good way to have a stressless experience. You want to give yourself at least 3 months of preparation time for major events. Some events may even need this window during busy months to allow yourself the best venues and suppliers that are available.
Different companies have different goals they’d like to achieve through their events. Meeting those goals while including events that build community among employees is important. When done correctly, events like these hold value to employees by providing opportunities for engagement.
