While not yet something every company does, many workplaces now regularly organise social functions for it's staff, to celebrate Christmas. Simply known as the Christmas party in my own place of work, this year it involved going bowling, where it came as no surprise that I completely sucked at the art of throwing a ball at some pins.
However, I still have to ask, why do people do these things? I for one spent much of my time during this escapade to the bowling alley feeling like an outcast. Now I'm 21 years old, and the only person there who was that age. I know age means squat when it comes to things, hell, my girlfriend is three years my junior.
But still, I was sat there, surrounded by a group of sixteen year old girls, all of whom were the very essence of the stereotypical blonde bimbo teenager you see in so many bad high school movies (and Musical's... forgive me a second while I shudder), as well as a group of middle aged women, and a group of young males whom talked about things I had no idea on.
Basically, I was the outsider that night. Or at least at first. See there's a funny thing about bowling, it's a competitive game. And somehow, the manager had the foresight to make team picking random. Which meant we all got stuck with a random mix. Even though somehow there was still primarily a team of the boys, and many of the girls ended up in the same team...
Anyway, bowling quickly turned competitive, to the point where there was actually some cheating going on, apparently one of the boys didn't want to score lower than me in the second round, when I scored the lowest in the first. Nevertheless I caught him out, even though the score remained.
But yet, this felt awfully familiar to a team building exercise. We all ended up in mixed teams, with staff we'd never normally mix with, and played against each other. Sure it was fun, but I can't help but wonder, did we just pay for a bit of our own training? Is this why companies allow Christmas parties?
Lets think about it for a second. What's actually in it for a company in holding a Christmas party? I mean yes, it doesn't look too good if your company flat out refuses to allow social functions, even privately organised ones, but many companies will pay for the Christmas parties. Which means there must be something in it for them.
But then, as I say, it's a team building exercise. Even if all you do is put on some Christmas music, offer some snacks, and provide a bit of booze, people will mingle, and chat, and eventually bonds will form. Since every personnel expert agrees that a group of staff who are friendly with each other will work together better, then surely the Christmas party is a good thing, as it allows friendships to increase.
Think about it. If you work, how many of your work friends do you make a conscious effort to see outside of work hours? I wouldn't choose to see any of them if I can help it (esp. the blonde girls, would rather tear out my own hair, than spend time with them). And yet, we now have something to talk about at work.
But has it made us closer as a team? No. I don't like the blonde lot any more than I did before, I still feel like a bit of an outsider, and I know that nothing I did in terms of bowling ability will improve my career, or do me any favours in terms of how well I can work with others. I doubt anyone else took anything else away from it either.
Well, bar the idea that none of us are good bowlers.
However, I still have to ask, why do people do these things? I for one spent much of my time during this escapade to the bowling alley feeling like an outcast. Now I'm 21 years old, and the only person there who was that age. I know age means squat when it comes to things, hell, my girlfriend is three years my junior.
But still, I was sat there, surrounded by a group of sixteen year old girls, all of whom were the very essence of the stereotypical blonde bimbo teenager you see in so many bad high school movies (and Musical's... forgive me a second while I shudder), as well as a group of middle aged women, and a group of young males whom talked about things I had no idea on.
Basically, I was the outsider that night. Or at least at first. See there's a funny thing about bowling, it's a competitive game. And somehow, the manager had the foresight to make team picking random. Which meant we all got stuck with a random mix. Even though somehow there was still primarily a team of the boys, and many of the girls ended up in the same team...
Anyway, bowling quickly turned competitive, to the point where there was actually some cheating going on, apparently one of the boys didn't want to score lower than me in the second round, when I scored the lowest in the first. Nevertheless I caught him out, even though the score remained.
But yet, this felt awfully familiar to a team building exercise. We all ended up in mixed teams, with staff we'd never normally mix with, and played against each other. Sure it was fun, but I can't help but wonder, did we just pay for a bit of our own training? Is this why companies allow Christmas parties?
Lets think about it for a second. What's actually in it for a company in holding a Christmas party? I mean yes, it doesn't look too good if your company flat out refuses to allow social functions, even privately organised ones, but many companies will pay for the Christmas parties. Which means there must be something in it for them.
But then, as I say, it's a team building exercise. Even if all you do is put on some Christmas music, offer some snacks, and provide a bit of booze, people will mingle, and chat, and eventually bonds will form. Since every personnel expert agrees that a group of staff who are friendly with each other will work together better, then surely the Christmas party is a good thing, as it allows friendships to increase.
Think about it. If you work, how many of your work friends do you make a conscious effort to see outside of work hours? I wouldn't choose to see any of them if I can help it (esp. the blonde girls, would rather tear out my own hair, than spend time with them). And yet, we now have something to talk about at work.
But has it made us closer as a team? No. I don't like the blonde lot any more than I did before, I still feel like a bit of an outsider, and I know that nothing I did in terms of bowling ability will improve my career, or do me any favours in terms of how well I can work with others. I doubt anyone else took anything else away from it either.
Well, bar the idea that none of us are good bowlers.
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