Exchange Your Virtual Holiday Party For A Team Kindness Initiative
Wow! What a year it has been, huh? We don’t need to tell you why. You know...it’s been rough. No matter how tough it has been we have found that one principle alone has been able to help cut through it all. Kindness. This simple philosophy has been able to make just about any situation, moment, and decision a little easier in 2020. While acts of kindness are easy (and often free) to commit, the mindset is a little more difficult to achieve, even when the benefits are endless. Like any mindset or habit, it just takes repetitive practice to master.
If we apply this practice to the workplace, acting in kindness, can you just imagine what that workplace would look like in 2021? One of more compassion, patience, and joy. Just when we need it the most.
We, at Bash Creative, have had some time to reflect on this challenge over the last few months and have come up with an incredible initiative that can be implemented at any company, of any size, in any location around the globe. Yep, ANY COMPANY, and it’s not solely virtual! Now before we get too far along, we want to be clear that this blog is a pitch for adding kindness into your culture. That’s it. Bash Creative would be honored to work with you on delivering more kindness into your culture (DREAM JOB), but we are just as satisfied with being your inspiration. So in the spirit of giving, I will dive into the top-five benefits and incentives that an event/initiative like our 12 Days Of Kindness can provide. While this initiative is aimed at the holiday season, it could really be done any time of year. Kindness is timeless!
Connecting Back To Your Community
People miss people. As it looks, we won’t be able to gather safely for a while. Encouraging activities like call a friend or family member you haven’t spoken to in 2020, share a family recipe and what it means to you, or a collaborative virtual mural can connect employees back to their personal community as well as their professional one.
Acts Of Kindness Aren’t Grand Or Costly
Not every company is able to spend a fortune on gifts or holiday “parties” this year, whether they are virtual, hybrid, or live. So finding a way to bring teams together needs to be cost-efficient as well as rewarding. Why not get your team to write holiday cards for seniors who are alone this holiday, send certificates of gratitude to fellow employees a la the holiday gram, or a secret Santa gift exchange with items from your home and wrapping in recyclable materials, promoting sustainability at the same time!
Virtual Gatherings Protect Your Team
It is our responsibility to protect each other, period. Setting a good example through your company policies and initiatives with regards to health and safety is one way to encourage your employees to adopt similar behaviors. Therefore, creating ways to connect virtually is really the only option you have. In our 12 Days of Kindness initiative, we are encouraging festive theme days like decorate your WFH space, festive & protective mask decorating, or ugly holiday sweater day.
Zoom Fatigue Is REAL
Instead of a Zoom Happy Hour why not build an online dashboard where your team members can participate in building a collaborative workday (or holiday) playlist, tips and tricks for at-home self-care, take pictures in a virtual photo booth, or participate in an online trivia game against their colleagues. The possibilities are endless! Many of these experiences also allow employees to participate at their leisure and off-screen.
Positivity Is As Contagious (too soon?)
It really is! Go ahead and Google it. So like any contagion, the more people who practice it the more people will follow suit. “Speaking from a very personal place, this is been my saving grace through the toughest year I have ever experienced. I have seen first hand how my choice for positivity in 2020 has inspired others to do the same. It’s encouraged the down-and-out to get back on their feet. And most of all, it’s allowed our team to grow closer together than I could have ever imagined.” - Annalee Hagood-Earl, Founder & CEO of Bash Creative
This has been our silver lining in 2020, being able to spread kindness to our clients, their teams, and our own as well. We are proud to say that Bash Creative is ending this year wrapped up in kindness and helping spread good cheer across the globe. We could not ask for a better cap to 2020 and an incredible launch into 2021.
Bash Creative is an event planning company that specializes in incredible gatherings that go beyond just great design. We’re known for teasing out smart goals for your event and serve up a stylish execution that will keep your guests buzzing. Located in San Francisco, but often found in New York, Austin, Chicago, Seattle, and beyond.