Be honest. When you think of "virtual holiday party," what comes to mind is a computer screen filled with a million Zoom boxes. No one is actually engaging. It's a "virtual happy hour," but no one is actually happy. It's just kinda awkward and sad.

But wait. What if there's a better way to have a virtual holiday party?

If you can believe it, tomorrow will be full-blown October. For many employees working from home, grinding day after day without seeing their coworkers, it feels like time is simultaneously flying and standing still. 

That feeling of monotony and disconnection can really take its toll on a team. So, you've got to do something. Something fun. Something different. Something together, even while we're physically apart. But how?

It's been nine weeks since stay at home orders made their way across the country, but for many of us, it has felt much longer. Because we are working remotely, we no longer get as much social interaction from our peers and colleagues. And, at a certain point, the endless string of video meetings is more draining than energizing.

But we're here to show you that hope is not lost.

You do not have to feel isolated or alone during the COVID-19 quarantine. There are still plenty of ways to feel connected to your team, your company, and the work you're doing.

With the latest advice from the coronavirus task force to limit gathering to groups with 10 or fewer, many companies across the country have decided to implement teleworking policies to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Whether your company always works remotely or is doing so temporarily, there are very real benefits gained from offering this flexibility to employees.

But it does take some forethought to build or maintain a team when you're not physically in the same place.

Many companies have already implemented policies, communications, and contingencies for how they will operate during the current public health issue of the coronavirus (COVID-19). And while there is no way to overstate how important those preparations are, there's another hugely important thing for companies to consider:

Company culture is more than just a buzzword: It's your company's DNA and who you are as an organization. It permeates every facet of your business and impacts every single aspect of your company's day-to-day, workplace, and bottom line.

The perfect opportunity to engage your employees and improve company culture is when it gets warm outside. Why? Because it gives you the opportunity to relive the nostalgia of your school days, when you had one day dedicated to fun and good-natured competition.

It's time to have a field day!

Many of our clients are looking for more than just another repetitive happy hour. They want their company events to truly improve company culture, to drive connections, and improve working relationships in the office. 

One key area for those improvements is with regard to employee recognition. If you're looking for help infusing recognition into your company events, you'll want to start with these simple questions.

Think about a time when you really nailed it. That feeling when you reached a milestone. That moment when you hit your goal. It feels good, right? It feels even better when someone else notices. So, how do you amplify the positive feeling so your employees feel recognized?

Your company event strategy can have a huge impact on the culture of your organization. So, rather than planning events last minute, it's important to consider what you really want to gain from the events, and how you want your company to grow.

We have some key tips on how to use events to create greater recognition, connection, balance, inclusivity, and fun.  

Remember how winter felt when you were a kid? The exciting feeling of the first "snow day" of the year. The warm, sweet, creamy first sip of hot cocoa after a snowball fight. The carefree delight of ice skating with your friends. 

Those were the good old days. Why did things seem so good, so simple back then? 

It’s that time of year again. There’s a chill in the air. Puffy jackets, hats and scarves are on. Your morning coffee is dressed up in a holiday cup. And your company holiday party is just around the corner.

Welcome to Leaders In Play! We interview people who take having FUN at work very seriously. We know, it seems like a crazy concept, but incorporating Play At Work has been proven to improve employee engagement, creativity, recruitment, retention, and provide countless other benefits that help create healthy company culture. Read on to learn more about our featured leader and their definition of Play, both in and out of the workplace.

Sports, at the end of the day, should be fun--even in the professional ranks. After all, they do play “games” every night, don’t they? The difference is their games often come within a high pressure environment where winning is the primary goal. There’s not one blueprint for how to win.

It's basically November, which means one thing:

It is OFFICIALLY company holiday party crunch time.

If you're still looking for the right venue, location, or partner for this year's company Christmas party, it's all good. The clock is ticking, but there are still tons of great places out there. We're here to help.