Step into any holiday-season event, and you’ll feel it instantly—that electric hum in the air. People are festive. Committees are cheerful. Leaders are exchanging handshakes with donors, members, partners, and employees. From the outside, it all seems effortless, like this beautiful celebration somehow orchestrated itself.
But behind the curtain? Your events team is spinning plates, calming chaos, and solving problems in real time. They’re wrangling vendors, adjusting menus, resetting rooms, handling tech hiccups, and doing it all while making sure no one sees the seams.
As the rest of the organization begins to slow down for year-end, your events team is speeding up, quietly powering the magic that makes it all look easy.
The Season of ‘Extra’ Everything
For most people, November and December bring a sense of slowing down. It’s a time to catch up, reflect, maybe even exhale a little.
But for event professionals? It’s go time.
Read More: Event Leaders Share Their Gratitude Practices
More galas. More board meetings. More leadership off sites. More last-minute “can-we-just” requests. More receptions, programs, run-throughs, and wardrobe changes, all while smiling through the stress.
And here’s the tough part: when everything goes smoothly, it often goes unnoticed. But when something slips? Suddenly, everyone’s paying attention.
That imbalance wears on even the most seasoned professionals. The pressure to deliver perfection, without so much as a visible wrinkle, builds year after year. And it takes a toll.
The Invisible Weight of ‘If You Don’t Hear About It, It Must’ve Been Fine’
Event teams are the people who instinctively run toward problems. They’re wired to anticipate issues before they arise and smooth out snags before anyone else notices.
But when the work is invisible, so is the credit.
The applause often goes to the speaker, the CEO, the sponsor. Rarely to the planner who made sure the keynote had water, the slide deck was loaded, and the doors opened on time.
That’s where retention quietly starts to slip. Not because the job is hard, they already know that. But because the work can feel like it vanishes the moment the lights go out.
Gratitude Isn’t a Gesture. It’s a Strategy.
There’s a persistent myth in this industry: that appreciation has to be flashy to count. That it needs to come with a budget line or a big speech.
But the truth? The most powerful recognition is simple, specific, and consistent.
A quick note that names what someone did well. A shout-out in a pre-con huddle. A text after a tough event saying, “I saw what you handled, and you nailed it.”
These are the moments that keep people engaged through the grind.
Because when people feel seen, they stay. When they feel invisible, even the best talent eventually walks.
Use the Event to Build the Culture
Here’s something we don’t talk about enough: events aren’t just for attendees. They’re a living, breathing example of how your team operates.
Read More: Work Smart: The Team Culture Factor
Every event is a case study in collaboration, creativity, and resilience. It’s also a golden opportunity to create connection internally, especially during peak season.
Think small:
- A quick recognition circle after the final guest leaves.
- A handwritten note on a planner’s desk the next morning.
- Sharing positive feedback with the people responsible, not just about them.
- A “cheers” at the end of the night to call out a win.
These aren’t extras. They’re fuel. They’re what keep people showing up, year after year, instead of checking job boards over the holidays.
The Part No One Talks About
While other departments are winding down, your team is sprinting.
They’re missing holiday dinners and bedtime stories. They’re showing up early, staying late, and carrying the emotional weight of “this has to be perfect.”
- They’re the reason everything looks polished.
- The reason your boss gets compliments.
- The reason your sponsors re-sign.
- The reason people leave with smiles and stories.
And yet, they’re often the least publicly recognized.
This season, that can change.
Not with grand gestures, but with intentional gratitude. With visible appreciation. With real, specific acknowledgment of the people who make your year-end moments possible.
Retention Begins Before January
Retention doesn’t start with New Year’s resolutions. It starts in December.
When teams feel appreciated in their hardest season, they remember it. They carry that into the new year with pride, energy, and loyalty.
But when they feel overlooked, that lingers too. That’s when burnout shows up. That’s when resumes start circulating.
The good news? This industry already knows how to create unforgettable experiences. Now, it’s time to create those moments for your own team.
Make gratitude a practice, not just a seasonal theme.
Make recognition specific, not generic.
Make sure your team hears applause, even when they’re behind the curtain.
Because the real magic of meetings doesn’t come from the stage. It comes from the people who build it.
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Lisa Ryan, CSP, is a workplace gratitude and retention expert, founder of Grategy, and an in-demand keynote speaker who helps leaders keep their best people through meaningful connection and appreciation. Learn more at lisaryanspeaks.com
