Manager School Series - Year-End Leadership Mastery
- Week 1: Budget Season Survival Guide - Financial planning for managers
- This Week: The Manager’s Holiday Party Playbook - Team building during celebrations
- Week 3: Setting Your Team Up for Q1 Success - Strategic planning
- Week 4: Managing During the Holiday Slowdown - Practical tips for December productivity
- Week 5: 2026 Vision: Trends Every Manager Should Watch - Forward-looking insights
‘Tis the season for office holiday parties, team celebrations, and the annual question: “How do we celebrate without creating HR incidents?” The holidays present unique opportunities for team building, but they also come with unique challenges for managers.
Why Holiday Celebrations Matter
Holiday celebrations aren’t just “fun”—they’re strategic investments in team culture, morale, and retention. Done right, they create shared positive memories that last all year.
Every holiday or random event is a chance for the team to shine, which helps build morale and a great atmosphere. The teams that celebrate together often work better together, especially during high-stress periods.
The Holiday Party Planning Framework
Here’s your step-by-step guide to holiday celebrations that build culture instead of creating problems:
Step 1: Set Clear Intentions
- What’s the purpose? Team bonding? Recognition? Stress relief?
- Who’s invited? Team only? Plus-ones? Cross-departmental?
- What’s the budget and who’s paying?
- What’s the timeline and who’s organizing?
Step 2: Consider Your Team’s Diversity
Not everyone celebrates Christmas. Some people don’t drink alcohol. Some have family obligations that make evening events difficult. Plan inclusively:
- Use “holiday” or “year-end” rather than specific religious terms
- Offer multiple celebration options (lunch, happy hour, family-friendly events)
- Provide non-alcoholic options that aren’t just soda
- Consider dietary restrictions and cultural preferences
Managing Holiday Celebrations
The key to successful holiday events is setting expectations upfront and managing them throughout.
Before the Event:
- Communicate the dress code clearly
- Set expectations about alcohol consumption if applicable.
- Remind everyone that work policies still apply
- Provide alternatives for those who can’t or don’t want to attend
During the Event:
- Model appropriate behavior - you set the tone for your team.
- Keep work talk to a minimum
- Make sure everyone feels included
- Have a plan for addressing any issues that arise
After the Event:
- Follow up with “thank yous” (google tells me that’s the correct spelling, but I have my doubts)
- Address any issues privately and quickly
- Get feedback for planning future events
Creative Holiday Celebration Ideas
Move beyond the standard office party with these team-building alternatives:
Service-Based Celebrations:
- Volunteer together at a local charity
- Adopt a cause as a team
- Organize a food drive or toy drive
Experience-Based Celebrations:
- Team cooking class or food tour
- Escape room or puzzle challenge
- Local cultural event or museum visit
Recognition-Focused Celebrations:
- Awards ceremony highlighting the year’s achievements
- Storytelling session where team members share wins
The Remote and Hybrid Challenge
Celebrating with distributed teams requires extra creativity:
Virtual Celebration Options:
- Online cooking or cocktail making classes
- Virtual escape rooms or trivia contests
- Care package deliveries to home offices
- Online game tournaments with prizes
Hybrid Solutions:
- Multiple smaller local gatherings
- Recorded celebration videos that remote folks can contribute to
- Digital gift exchanges or recognition programs
- Flexible celebration budgets that work for different locations
Avoiding Holiday Pitfalls
Common mistakes that turn celebrations into problems:
- The Pressure Trap: Making attendance feel mandatory
- The Expense Trap: Expecting employees to contribute significant money
- The Alcohol Trap: Centering events around drinking
- The Exclusion Trap: Planning only for one type of celebration or family situation
- The TMI Trap: Using alcohol as an excuse for inappropriate conversations
If you want to have alcohol at your event, have it at a venue that serves alcohol. Don’t bring that risk into your workplace.
Recognition During the Holidays
The holidays are perfect for meaningful recognition. Consider:
- Year-in-review presentations highlighting everyone’s contributions
- Personalized thank-you notes mentioning specific achievements
- Public recognition in company communications
- Career development conversations about next year’s goals
- Small, thoughtful gifts that show you pay attention to individual preferences
Making Memories, Not Problems
The best holiday celebrations become positive memories that strengthen team bonds. Ask yourself: “Will this event make people feel more connected to the team and excited about working together?”
Remember, you’re not just planning a party—you’re investing in team culture and showing your people that they matter beyond their work output.
Action item for this week: Survey your team about their holiday celebration preferences. You might be surprised by what you learn about their interests and constraints.
Next Week Preview:
With the new year approaching, we’ll explore how to set your team up for Q1 success through strategic planning and goal setting.
See you next week!
-Frank
