Company events are a great way to encourage your employees to feel invested in the company’s success. They also allow you to interact with your staff outside of the office environment and build connections to make them more productive once they return. But suppose you’ve been experiencing low participation rates at company events. In that case, it may be because you’re not doing anything differently from what other companies have done before – or worse yet, nothing at all!
Table of Contents
1. Be Clear About the Goal
It’s not uncommon for company events to have a vague purpose or no purpose at all. And while it may sound obvious, the first step towards increasing participation rates is having a clear-cut objective that everyone understands. For example, are you trying to increase customer loyalty? Are you attempting to improve brand awareness within an industry? Is there something specific that you want people to learn or remember? Asking these questions will help define your objective and lead directly into how it should be achieved.
2. Keep Things Simple
Nobody wants to participate in overly complicated activities at company events, so keep your objectives within reason – one idea at a time should do just fine. Sometimes the simplest ideas are the most effective, so resist the urge to try and do too much. This will help you focus on what’s important and ensure that everyone is on the same page.
3. Set a Deadline
Too often, company events are put together without any real thought or planning, which can lead to delays in getting things started. Not only is this frustrating for employees, but it can also kill momentum and enthusiasm. Setting a deadline for registration or participation will help keep everyone on their toes and prevent people from waiting until the last minute to get involved.
4. Make It Fun
Nobody wants to attend an event that will be dull, so it’s essential to inject some fun into the proceedings. This doesn’t mean that you should try and host an extravagant party, but it does mean that you need to get creative with your activities. Sometimes the best way to do this is by asking for suggestions from other employees who have participated in similar events before, so think about reaching out for help if you’re unsure how to proceed.
5. Don’t Leave Anyone Out
It’s pretty obvious what happens when one employee is excluded from something. Still, many people don’t realize how much damage can be done simply by not including everyone at once. This doesn’t only refer to the person being left out either – it can have a negative impact on others as well. So whenever possible, strive to choose inclusive activities and speakers that will give everyone a chance to participate.
6. Don’t Forget About Retention
Creating and hosting company events can be a great way of attracting potential employees, but that doesn’t mean that you should neglect existing employees. It’s essential to recognize that many people may consider leaving the company if they feel like they’re not making progress or growing with the organization, so try and incorporate some form of training into your events – such as an instructional session or seminar. This will help individuals learn something new and reinforce their commitment to the company at the same time.
Company events needn’t be boring or monotonous. By following the above six tricks and tips, you’ll see a noticeable improvement in participation rates. This will ultimately lead to better engagement and more people feeling like they’re moving forward with their company at all times – which is exactly what you want from team members.
