08-27-2024
Earlier this month, Purdue Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management faculty brought together PhD alumni, friends, and colleagues at the Academy of Management Conference. At first glance, it was simply a fun moment to celebrate a great year as Boilermakers. However, upon closer examination, it also serves as a case study on why some work gatherings succeed while others fall flat.
Throughout the year, organizational leaders are responsible for bringing their teams and professional communities together, ensuring these gatherings are worthwhile and engaging. There’s a shared understanding that celebrations matter. As Kouzes and Posner aptly put it in The Leadership Challenge, “Celebrations are the punctuation marks that make sense of the passage of time; without them, there are no beginnings and endings. Life becomes an endless series of Wednesdays.”
Research shows that having fun enhances problem-solving skills, boosts creativity and productivity, and leads to lower turnover, higher morale, and a stronger bottom line. Yet, as we all know, just because a work event is on the calendar doesn’t guarantee it will be enjoyable. Reflecting on our truly enjoyable gathering in Chicago, I’d like to highlight some research-based best practices for effective, genuinely fun, professional events.
First, be clear about why you are gathering and what you are celebrating. Often, when planning these events, we overlook a simple yet crucial question — why do we want to gather? Is it to honor specific individuals? Provide a space to relax and unwind? Build a sense of community? Each of these reasons is valid, but they call for different types of events. In Chicago, we gathered to celebrate the remarkable successes and accomplishments of our faculty, alumni, and friends. It wasn’t just about the hosts — we aimed to celebrate our guests.
The next important question is, “How do I want guests to feel?” While “good” might be the easy answer, it’s not very descriptive. Consider feelings like inspired, relaxed, validated, or excited. These emotions influence everything from the setting to the music to the conversations. Given the hectic nature of the conference, we wanted our guests to leave feeling content and restored. We set this tone from the very beginning, choosing a venue far removed from the hustle and bustle of downtown Chicago — an outdoor garden designed to offer a peaceful, relaxed atmosphere.
Finally, great celebrations involve as many people as possible on a personal level. Guests should feel connected, valued, and eager to share in the moment. In Chicago, our faculty reminisced over lunch with old friends about their grad school years, introduced their graduate students to important connections, and expressed appreciation for the mentors who have shaped their careers. They were personally involved, and it was wonderful!
We’re thrilled to share a glimpse of the moments of celebration at the Mitch Daniels School of Business and the rich experience of a gathering worth hosting (and attending!).
Kate Zipay is an assistant professor of management in the OBHR area at Purdue’s business school. She researches the influence of life outside of work on employee emotions, attitudes and behaviors. Kate is also a faculty affiliate of the Center for Working Well. Outside of work, she loves to read, play games and puzzles, and spend time on campus attending sporting events and catching performances with her family and meeting friends for “coffee walks.”
