3 tips — How to become the (work) Host with the Most

At King of Pops we’ve hosted hundreds of employee events since starting in 2010. Some are as simple as ordering pizza (with extra toppings) for an after-hours committee meeting, and on the other end of the spectrum we host an annual company cruise that nearly 100 folks will attend this year.

For many (like myself) planning and hosting a great event does not come naturally. I’ve learned three tips that will drastically increase the chances of your team (and you) feeling warm and fuzzy when the cleanup is over and everything is said and done.

Sometimes a collage is really the only way to convey your event’s vision. Star employee Rob Scott does it flawlessly for our 3rd Annual Lake Jam.

1. Plan Ahead. Create a Facebook event, send out an Evite, or go old school with a paper invitation. Give it a snazzy name (my personal favorite is Earthworm Day). Spend more time than you should on the poster, and then make sure to hype it a more than a few times. People have a lot going on, so your first goal should be to convince them they want to be there.
2. Have a one-track mind. It’s easy to use valuable time with the team together to work on the next big thing. RESIST! Try to avoid being productive with work “stuff,” and focus on the thing that brought you all together. It’s significantly more valuable to recognize someone that is doing an amazing job than to squeeze in 15 more minutes of work on the next project.
3. Sincerity Above All Else. It’s easy to rush through the event once the big day comes around. Build in time & encourage leaders to take time to tell their team how much they care. It’s contagious, and a well thought out note, slideshow or speech will go further than even the best game of laser tag.

King of Pops @ Laser Tag … nobody said you can’t do both.