Love it or loathe it, the ‘works Christmas do’ is a firm fixture in the annual calendar. 44’s Imogen Charnley gets motivated to find inspiration for marking Christmas in a lockdown.
The pandemic has challenged everyone in different ways, and as 2020 draws to a close, saying thank you to colleagues feels more important than ever.
Of course, as we enter a second national lockdown, it looks likely that any sort of works Christmas do will be off the table. So, how can your workplace mark the season in a way that’s sufficiently fun and friendly while following the rules?
It’s a question that we’ve been grappling with in the office, so I set out on a self-appointed mission to gather some works Christmas inspiration. Along the way I dipped into some motivational theory and summoned some ghosts of Christmases past. Then I mixed it together to come up with some suggestions for navigating the festivities in the midst of a global pandemic…
What’s driving your works Christmas?
Back in 2009, Daniel H. Pink published his bestselling book Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us. Based on 40 years of research by behavioural psychologists and economists, Pink put forward the theory that people have different types of motivation. Primary drives are what make us see to our biological needs, like hunger and comfort. Secondary drives relate to the ‘carrot-and-stick’ type motivators like bonuses and penalties, where we will do something to gain a reward or avoid a punishment.
Pink argues that incentives based on primary and secondary drives aren’t particularly successful in business in relation to any sort of cognitive task. When you think about it, he says, it makes perfect sense: sure, we need to eat and we need to be paid enough that money worries don’t get in the way, but what defines us as humans is so much more than those basic drives. When researchers study people at work they found it’s the intrinsic motivations – that is, our innate desire to develop autonomy, mastery and purpose – that really drive our behaviours.
There are different ways to interpret this when it comes to the kind of Christmas celebration people want and need from their workplace.
The shift to experiential incentives
In recent years, informed by Pink and others, employers have recognised that financial incentives are not a great way to increase people’s engagement and creativity. If you’re after better productivity and teamwork, it’s much more effective to offer people an experience they can look forward to, and a chance to make some memories. Instead of a bonus cheque, the focus has been shifting more towards experiential ways to reward hard work.
Last Christmas…
Apart from tradition, the main reasons to throw a works Christmas party are to make sure employees feel valued and to give people some time to relax together, get to know each other better and create some positive memories – all great ways to increase intrinsic motivation.
The right reward
This year, the situation is very different, and the realities of what’s going on need to be considered sensitively. While many people are desperate for some light relief, others may not be in the mood to celebrate. As well as the obvious restrictions brought by the lockdown, there’s also the sense of insecurity many individuals and businesses are experiencing amid the current economic uncertainty. The implications of the second, winter lockdown are still sinking in and it’s a worrying time for many.
Getting it right this Christmas will depend on finding a solution that’s right for the particular circumstances of your workplace. Keeping this in mind, here are a few of my favourite suggestions for non-Christmas party ideas that tap into more intrinsic forms of motivation…
Virtual events
While the idea of an after-hours Teams call sounds about as appealing as a soggy vol-au-vent, opting for a hosted, guided or structured experience could be a great way to break the ice and re-kindle some real interaction between colleagues.
- Wine tasting: A wine tasting workshop is a great way of combining an event with some palatable liquid gifts. Perhaps add some cheese too to round off the experience
- Escape rooms: If your team loves a challenge, the chance to solve a problem just for fun in an online escape room could be the perfect bonding experience
- Host your own: This might require some time and creativity to make sure it feels sufficiently different from a team meeting, but hosting your own awards ceremony is a good way of recognising everyone’s contributions during the year. A theme will also help to add to the occasion. You could arrange to have the same type of takeaway food delivered at the same time to help people feel part of a shared experience. There’s no reason why old faithfuls like Secret Santa can’t take place this year too – virtually, of course.
Party alternatives
If, for whatever reason, the party spirit just isn’t in you this year, there are other ways to show appreciation to colleagues for Christmas.
- Donate to charity: It’s been a tough year for charities, and most colleagues have a cause close to their hearts. Offering a donation to a charity selected by employees is a perfect way to put the usual drinks kitty to good use
- A thoughtful gift: A well-selected present lets people know you care about them as an individual. Subscriptions keep the gift running into the hard months after Christmas – how about a food box for a budding gourmet or a roasted bean selection for a coffee lover?
- Time out: While many people have spent time on furlough this year, others have had additional demands placed on their time. An additional day or two off to re-charge and spend with family could be just the tonic needed for facing 2021 refreshed and motivated.
How is your organisation marking Christmas this year? Get in touch and let us know!
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