Desert Dine - 5 Ways Food Can Encourage Networking at Your Corporate Event - What to Know
When it comes to planning a corporate event, one of your biggest priorities should be to encourage the people who are attending to form personal and professional connections between themselves. This is an absolute must, and you should ensure that you’re able to provide an environment that is conducive to doing so.
From seating arrangements to the overall decor, many factors can contribute to this aspect. However, food also plays a key role in this, and we’ll show you exactly how in the sections below.
1. Food can be a conversation starter
Your chosen menu will automatically be something that all the attendees will share in common. Everyone will be enjoying the same dishes and drinks, and these effectively act as icebreakers that can spark conversations in which everyone can share their opinion. This is especially true if you’re able to provide your guests with new and interesting flavors, so practice some creativity when designing a menu.
2. Food encourages people to move around
People tend to gravitate towards their own friends and form social circles that alienate them from the rest of the party. This is something you want to discourage by strategically placing food around the venue. In doing so, your guests will have to leave their group to get a particular food or drink they want, which is a prime opportunity for them to meet someone new.
3. Food puts people at ease
You also want to make sure your guests are comfortable throughout the affair, and providing them with nourishment is one of the easiest ways to ensure that. It could also mean that some of the more introverted guests have a way of dealing with awkward situations, as a cocktail in hand or a plate of food in front of them can give them opportunities to escape an awkward interaction.
4. Food gives them a boost of energy
There are times when a corporate event can take too long, leaving guests with little energy to pay attention to the program or the people around then. Food can effectively combat this, as it can give attendees an instant boost of energy that will promote them to be more present during the party.
5. Food is naturally communal
Sharing food is something that naturally brings people closer together. This has been the case ever since the time of early humans, when sharing a meal strengthened social ties that ensured an individual’s survival. While things are a bit different these days, the chance to eat in the presence of others brings us all back to that common history we all share.
Conclusion
As you can see, providing food and drinks at a corporate event—or any other type of party, for that matter—is absolutely essential. Doing so allows you to offer your guests more opportunities to interact with one another and greater motivation for them to do so.We suggest that you partner with a professional caterer to handle this aspect of the event. That way, you can be assured of a quality service that your guests will appreciate, and they’d be likely to come back for the next party that you throw.
We provide professional catering in Palm Desert, CA. Get in touch with us today if you need our help. We’ll be delighted to serve you.
