Question 1

How do you get people to connect across groups?

Accepted Answer

A large or rapidly growing company can mean that most of the great people inside hardly know each other. Left to their own devices, a more shy group may separate along existing lines. We think one of the great benefits of office events is creating the informal connections that allow ideas to bubble up and give someone a friend to call when they really need help from a different group. Some thoughts on how to make that happen:

Celebrate Cross-Department Teams: If you physically bring together a group that comes from different departments, it can create a natural, post-announcement collision of all the people who come up to chat with them after. And given that a few people were highlighted, it makes a natural conversation starter of which person they know or do they work with so and so, which can be enough to get people talking.
Visually Celebrate Interest Groups: Many companies have internal working groups that are trying to find passionate new members. Markers for those groups (pins, badge ribbons, wrist bands) can often allow interested individuals to identify a group member and ask about it. It seems so simple, but creates an invitation to ask. This can be a great way to build informal ties across a company or mentorship relationships between people of different levels.
Ask Executives to Be Good Hosts: Executives often aren't really sure what to do at company events and can hide on their phones working if you let them. Since they're often the most aware of which people should be connected, why not ask them to actively focus on doing that? Have each put together a list of a couple people they want to introduce and get them to kick off those conversations during the event.

Question 2

How do you create an environment that makes people excited to come to work and stay with the company over time?

Accepted Answer

Keeping the best people at a company over time is usually driven by perceived upside, cultural fit, and enjoyment of the challenges they solve. A regular program including happy hours can help to strengthen the informal bonds that keep someone happy with the situation they have.

Reminder of Purpose: A strong communication program that shares the company's progress can help employees be proud of their company's contribution to the world and their part in making that happen. It's refreshing to pull back from the day to day sometimes to remember the bigger picture and celebrate how work is contributing to a larger societal mission.
Strengthen Informal Ties: The game-changing work often involves more than the work formally assigned. Whether it's building relationships with leadership in mentorship programs, punching up via leadership of committees or working groups, or helping colleagues in other functions to solve critical problems, it's important to develop a network within a company and be well regarded by more than just a manager. Happy hours and other company functions can help to keep those connections alive and foster collaboration and innovation across the different groups in the organization...which can often help people to channel their passions and develop internally the exciting initiatives that will create a sense of ownership and keep them excited about their job.

Office Happy Hour Catering

Designed Thoughtfully. Crafted Lovingly. Presented Beautifully.®

Office Happy Hour Catering

Designed Thoughtfully. Crafted Lovingly. Presented Beautifully.®

Happy Hour at the Office

Celebrating a Milestone Achieved

Bringing Different Departments Together

Inviting in Partners and Customers

Recommended Happy Hour Catering Menus

Example Happy Hour Events

Happy Hour Photo Gallery

Happy Hour Venues