Making people come to corporate events has turned into one of the hardest jobs around. It never used to be. Employees would joke about how much they disliked going to events, and yet they would always roll in by the dozens. Not anymore. These days, every invitation gets weighed against a packed schedule and a rapidly diminishing willingness to attend anything that isn’t value-adding.
Some of this started before the pandemic, but the changes that took place afterwards made this the new normal. Remote work made it accepted that not everything demands physical presence. Employees also became comfortable saying no if something isn’t worth their time anymore. In truth, this is only a small part of what has transformed the corporate event industry for the good. Far too many awkward, uncomfortable situations have been endured instead of enjoyed.
The good news is that companies willing to change how they approach planning events are gaining significant ground on past era events people are genuinely excited about attending.
Comfort Makes All the Difference
Strangely enough, comfort is one of the first ways companies fail when they host an event. It seems too basic to fail at this level repeatedly. Still, most companies expect someone to sit in folding chairs lined up in rows for a few hours. Nobody wants to attend an event after a lengthy corporate workday and then sit in uncomfortable positions.
Just choosing the right furniture styles or mixing things up with how the space is set up can change things forever. Think of lounge-style seating arrangements, high-top seating for mingling, and making sure there are plenty of furniture styles throughout the venue. When companies do this, people feel better about attending their events.
An event rental company – Phoenix, AZ that is knowledgeable about this is a must-have. This instantly sets them apart from competitors and puts planners firmly in the mood to create enjoyable experiences instead of time restrictions on their attendees.
Make It Work For Real-life Interaction
Many corporate event setups actively work against people interacting, which is generally the entire point of hosting an event. Theater-style seating arrangements face people forward and makes them interact with a single person. Round tables that seat 8-10 other attendees awkwardly only allow half of any table mates to hear each other.
These seating arrangements are awful for interaction and networking opportunities. Instead of usual arrangements, consider more innovative options like setting up chairs in clusters of three or five around the venue or adding standing-room options where people can mingle comfortably without being forced to sit next to someone they don’t know.
Another way to approach this is to place lounge seating areas away from the action in quiet corners with interesting conversations to join or leave whenever necessary. This adds multiple interaction zones throughout the event instead of making guests feel like they are performing by merely attending.
Avoid Corporate Theater
The only way people will do everything possible to avoid attending future events is if current ones are treated like a performance that they must attend regularly to have seen to grasp the company’s corporate culture. Nowadays, people gain insight into corporate culture within minutes of entering a venue. If it seems contrived, stiff, formal, or awkward, it will be a long night for those forced to attend.
Companies should take their cues from modern industry trends. Gone are the days when “corporate” gatherings could only be held in specific venues dressed up as corporate anything due to adhering to certain etiquette rules.
Companies emerging that take gatherings outside of traditional venues have become increasingly popular over the last couple of years. Parking lots with string lights in them or public parks with comfy outdoor furniture often feel much more genuine than expensive hotel ballrooms filled with rental package furnishings.
Create Events That Mirror Company Culture
The goal should always be to create an atmosphere that feels like the company’s work atmosphere instead of one based on something outstanding that resides only in marketing material from over the ages.
For example, if the company is informal but has a strong collaborative spirit that promotes innovation, its gatherings should reflect this instead of adhering to outdated traditions placing this company as awkward and unsuitable instead of one that’s paving new paths forward.
No Attendance Norms
Too many industries rely on outdated norms regarding how long and when gatherings should occur around corporate events to reinvent themselves. Corporate events in the past have spanned hours that many employees often can’t find the time to attend sincerely.
On top of this, they’ve often been treated as mandatory experiences instead of fantastic opportunities that foster connection with colleagues. Instead, gather people in smaller chunks for shorter periods. This is even more specific if they aren’t doing anything active before.
Companies wanting their teams to attend gatherings should rethink how long they will require people and when they should gather as attendees have “work” relationships with one another.
Compulsory attendance for longer meetings involving leadership was utilized successfully in the past decades now feels like a chore after an already long workday for hard-pressed employees who spend hours in traffic jams before reaching home after finishing work.
Reduce Timing Conflicts
Instead of the traditional three-hour evening event after a long corporate workday filled with mandated attendance, consider innovative ideas for company gatherings that inspire innovation within their industry and gain back proactivity from reluctant team members.
Friendly options may include lunch gatherings in restaurants or outside if weather permits. Others might include floaty afternoon into evening events allowing attendees to meet friends and family afterwards.
Companies willing to ask their employees attend gatherings on weekends will have to ensure that they host something exceptional that draws people in instead of making them feel as though they’re just another meeting by requiring attendance from everyone once they wake up.
Food Signals Respect
An excellent way for businesses to make employees avoid meals at future corporate events is by providing sad sandwich lunches without creative flair placed on a folding table decorated with nothing but catering release forms.
The circumstances around food and beverage distribution within corporate gatherings have undoubtedly improved in recent years. However, many businesses continue viewing this element as something forced upon them as an essential extra rather than realizing what a great opportunity it provides upstanding food for thought during their corporate gathering.
Companies may reinforce their attendees’ palate regarding food by paying attention to ingredient quality and dietary requirements. These meals can also be presented in a quirky fashion utilizing loading stations instead of old buffet tables where queues are formed according to what a manager planned on bringing first or last.
Make People Want To Stay After The Event
Another way companies can improve attendance is by providing incentives for people to remain after formal activities have come to an end within these gathering settings.
If companies want their events to be attended by those hesitant despite only sometimes feeling connected within their working environments, these connections should be made more manageable and natural.
By actively adopting some of these processes used by successful companies exhibiting unprecedented growth during challenging times like pandemics throughout our world’s history (which was thought impossible a decade ago), companies will likely retain employees excited about attending company gatherings once more.