On Your Terms, You Can Use it To Shine at the Office  

We’ve all been tasked with coordinating more than our fair share of happy hours, retreats, luncheons, recognition events – you name it, and we’ve probably done it (albeit begrudgingly). But for most of us, it’s not the job we were hired for.

While the tasks can sometimes feel menial, and at times it all can be a little overwhelming (you want me to do my real job TOO?!), I’ve found a way to proudly wear the “office party planner” hat when it’s handed to me.  Not only that, I’ve learned to customize how it looks. As in, I wear it on my terms and I own it.

Because of this method of thinking, I’ve learned that being an “office party planner” can be one of the best, simplest, and most fun differentiators out there. What started out as things I was charged with coordinating, I’ve now begun volunteering for. That’s how much I’ve come to enjoy it all.

Nothing beats the satisfaction of excelling in the role that I was hired for – that is and will always be my main priority, and nothing will come in the way of that, as I know full well.  However, if times allow it, there’s no harm in finding additional ways to shine at the office.  In fact, I’m even a member on my office’s “Engagement Team,” which is tasked with finding new activities that help inspire the larger group to operate more creatively.

There is so much personal and professional value for someone – male, female, seasoned employee, rookie or anyone else – in leveraging the social aspects of office life. While often overlooked, there is a lot of experience and visibility to be had in coordinating these kinds of events. Sure, it takes a little extra work during an already busy day, but when done thoughtfully, leading or helping to coordinate social events gives you ownership of one more thing, which in turn, shows your bosses that you are responsible, collaborative and yep, even a little fun. This is a winning combination that reaps benefits far beyond a well-attended office happy hour.

So, here’s how I’ve flipped the thinking on office party planning: 

Prove You’re a Leader. Shout-out to my sister, Michelle, on this one. She made the excellent point that organizing social or group events allows you to showcase (or hone) your leadership skills – i.e. the most important tools in your professional arsenal.  So along the way, you’ll be beefing up your resumé while showing your current employer that you’re a strong leader more than capable of successfully seeing through a task and making sound, smart decisions. And because you’ve proven yourself, I can guarantee you’ll be tapped to join the next big brainstorm session or offer your expertise to help solve a problem.

Know Your People. This is one of my favorite benefits of being an office party planner because at the heart of event/party is the social component – you’re gathering people together for a single goal in a single place. Not only do you get to know your coworkers on a more personal level, but as you plan the event, you’ll be networking with various vendors and contacts with whom you’ll be able to connect in the future. Bonus: You’ll probably get some one-on-one time with your boss or others on the leadership team as you periodically fill them in on how the planning progresses.

Sunday Funday? Try Monday Funday. All work and no play makes anyone dull. That’s why it’s important to inject enjoyable activities into the workweek. Give yourself and your coworkers something fun to look forward to. Be the one to suggest a midweek coffee run, a Monday lunchtime walk, or a staff bake-off.  If you’re the person planning these fun activities, work won’t seem as monotonous, and you’ll be seen as someone who values the importance of a balanced schedule.

Boost Office Morale. Short of shelling out raises to everyone (wouldn’t that be nice to control?), what elevates office morale more than a Happy Hour or tasty cake after a successful website re-launch? Particularly after a long or difficult project, it’s important to reward a job well done. Why not help plan the recognition event? Even if you weren’t directly involved in the project being recognized, I promise the pride you have for your job and your teammates will skyrocket. 

Give Back, Feel Good. These are some of my favorite events to plan because they are a great way to gather your team together around even better causes. Write thank-you cards to veterans, raise money for the local women’s shelter, organize any number of drives (food, clothing, school supplies). Chances are, your local community has these types of events going on all the time. Check when these are happening, then find out how your office can get involved. Everyone wins here. 

Buddy System. No man’s an island (usually). That means you’ll probably end up coordinating events with someone else on your team at some point. That’s great! Nurture that relationship, because you’ll be able to rely on each other when the workload gets heavy. Plus, they may become a great confidante to turn to, regardless of whether or not you’re working on something together.

So, the next time everyone else groans about planning an office event, let them. You’ll know how to make the process way sweeter than a slice of celebratory cake, and the buzz surrounding you and your performance lasts a lot longer than the effect of that final glass of champagne.