An internal corporate event has two notable outcomes, either a success or a complete failure, and on rare occasions, maybe a mixed result. Employees work in the organization hosting the event, so you have to do more to impress them. You can decide to hire an event specialist, but you have to monitor them closely. If not, they might ruin the occasion. Whether you choose to hire an event specialist or take on the challenge yourself, here we share some ideas to note while planning your next corporate event.
1. Know the Type of Event
Corporate events vary and understanding the type of event and the purpose it serves is a vital first step to take. It can be a pre-product launch to celebrate the effort of employees, a picnic to improve the morale and bond between employees, or a welcome party for new staff. Whatever the type is, understanding its message and purpose is crucial for its success.
2. Set Out a Budget
Funds are typically the number one problem when planning for an event. Overspreading is what usually occurs when planning, so it is essential to have a budget and stick to it. Depending on the type of events, what you budget for will vary. If it’s a lecture-style internal event held in the morning, the professionals at https://purebean.com.au/ advise you to budget for coffee and snacks at such an event. A cup of coffee during breaks will ensure the attendees stay alert throughout the meeting. If the event is a dinner like an award ceremony, then booking a good-sized hall, having the right entertainment and equipment will be what you are looking to do with the budget.
3. Create a Timeline
Planning an event can be time-consuming, and if you do not have the means to keep track of the time, you might end up rushing to tidy up some undone activities on the day of the event. In order to avoid this from happening, create a timeline.
The timeline should have specific details of all the activities, those people in charge of it, and the various time slots allocated to each activity. There should also be a way to collect and follow up with feedback to keep other people involved in the planning process on their toes.
4. Broadcast The Event
Advertising an event isn’t only meant for an event with external guests, but also internal guests. You need to broadcast the event and create an exciting atmosphere around it. Depending on its type and purpose, the way it’s advertised will be different.
An award ceremony can have a long list of nominees to get the attention of employees. You may include a celebrity that will grace the event or give permission to family members to attend. If a lecture, display the profile of an established figure in that field on the company’s intranet.
You can also emphasize there will be a question-and-answer session and a meet-and-greet session. The aim is to bring out excitement and anticipation from the staff.
5. Make it Interactive
When planning the event, make sure it is as interactive as possible. No one wants to sit down through a three to four-hour event with no form of engagement. People want to interact, and you may lose your audience to side chitchats and their phones if you don’t perfectly plan this aspect.
One way to entertain the audience may be through a question-and-answer session. It may be something lighthearted, like comedy or presentations by departments within the organization. In all, ensure the people in the audience feel they are a part of the event.
6. Be Open to Feedback
The event is over, and everyone has made their way home. It may be over for the attendees, but not for you. Feedbacks are essential for improvements and growth. Therefore, you need to gather them from the employees. What did they like and didn’t like about the gathering? How were the venue and the atmosphere? And any recommendation on how to improve. These are some questions you can ask. You can make the answers anonymous so they can be truthful about their experience.
Planning a corporate event can be stressful, complex, and tiring, but also very rewarding if you execute it properly. Considering the audience expectation is the most crucial aspect of hosting a corporate event. The audience’s expectation is important because the atmosphere needs to be conducive enough to achieve the purpose and goal of that event. Hopefully, this article has been informative with tips for hosting a successful corporate event.