How to Wrap Up the Year in a Company On a High Note

We've gathered ideas that will make year-end meetings enjoyable for the entire team.

Why Wrap Up the Year with Your Team?

Wrapping up the year can seem stressful or like a mere formality. However, it's important for the team. Here are five reasons to do it:

• evaluate achievements
• analyze challenges
• thank the team for their work
• motivate employees for future achievements
• set goals for the coming year
• exchange ideas.

Simple Ways to Evaluate Results

While it's easy to turn to reports and statistics for work analysis, there are also creative ways to evaluate outcomes: the roadmap method, the "wheel of balance," or key events. We've detailed each one to help you choose the most interesting and effective for your team. 

Roadmap Method

This is one of the simplest and quickest ways to wrap up the year. Draw a line and chronologically place the important events for the company, department, or a specific employee on it. 

Then, recall the details of each event and assess its importance on a scale from 1 to 10:

• 10 — very important and highly impactful; 
• 1 — not important and had no impact.

 In the end, you'll see what was most valuable this year and what wasn't worth the resources.

Wheel of Balance

The classic version of this method suggests six categories: health, family, career, finances, hobbies, and leisure. We propose adjusting them to evaluate professional achievements. Here's our version: 

• Team Relationships: the atmosphere among colleagues, levels of trust and support.
• Personal Fulfillment: opportunities to use one's skills and talents.
• Job Satisfaction: working conditions and professional tasks.
• Feedback and Support: availability of feedback from management and colleagues, their engagement in work-related matters.
• Rewards and Recognition System: fairness of the reward system.
• Professional Development: opportunities for training, skill enhancement, and overall career growth.

You can gather the team for some group reflection. Follow these three simple steps:

Step 1. Use a compass or a cup to draw a circle. 

Step 2. Divide the circle into the six suggested sections and mark ten divisions in each. 

Step 3. Now, rate each area from 1 to 10 — fill in each section up to the required division.

Parts of the wheel that are least filled are the areas that need attention. Sections with the most color indicate excellent results.

Statistics

Gather data on your achievements, such as sales, completed projects, productivity, etc. Compare them with previous periods or the goals you set. This helps you see what you've accomplished and what still needs work. 

Key Events of the Year

Create a list of the most important events that happened within the team or company over the year. These can include successful projects, significant changes, or achievements by individuals or the team as a whole. Encourage colleagues to discuss them — this will provide different perspectives and help objectively evaluate the results.

How to Wrap Up the Year with the Team

With deadlines met and reports gathered, it's time to bring the team together and wrap up the year. We've prepared four effective ways to do this. 

Presentation

If you want to share important numbers or hold a year-end meeting with colleagues online, this classic option is a great choice. A presentation helps to document all significant moments and allows you to revisit them if needed.

One-on-One Meeting

One-on-one meetings are time-consuming but effective in wrapping up the year. This setting allows for a more detailed discussion of successes and lessons from failures. Prepare questions in advance and encourage each team member to reflect on their work. To maximize the benefits, try to create a trusting atmosphere for open and honest conversation.

Team Meeting

During this meeting, all participants analyze achieved results and discuss upcoming tasks. Prepare an agenda in advance to ensure nothing is forgotten and everyone can prepare. Conclude the meeting by encouraging colleagues to exchange thanks and kind words. This practice will boost everyone's mood and strengthen team spirit.

Video Recap

A short video about key events is a unique way to wrap up the year at the company. Unlike a presentation, you can not only use pictures, stats, and charts, but also add more dynamic elements. Voiceovers, short interviews with colleagues, and clips from important events will capture the year's atmosphere and inspire new accomplishments. 

Is It Worth Addressing Failures?

When it comes to this topic, we recommend maintaining balance: don't avoid mentioning failures, but also don't dwell on negativity. Try to discuss mistakes as lessons: what benefits were gained, what helped resolve the situation, how to prevent it in the future. Even if you talk a lot about mistakes, end the meeting on a high note: definitely praise the team for their support and motivate them for the coming year. 

4 Ideas to Thank Your Colleagues for a Great Year

The end of the year is a wonderful time to celebrate with your team and thank them for their hard work. We've prepared four creative ideas that will delight your colleagues.

Bonuses and Gifts

Wrapping up the year with gifts is a great addition, and you can do it creatively with a Secret Santa game. This way, everyone gets a unique gift, ensuring satisfaction. To make choosing presents easier, agree on a budget limit for the surprise — this lowers stress levels and simplifies finding the perfect choice.

Secret Santa can be organized within a department or a large company — the MySanta app helps organize the game, even if you have more than 50 people and some work remotely. It also assists with creating wishlists and suggests ideas to delight the recipient.

Try our MySanta app

You can create wishlists, add exclusions, and communicate with your gifree secretly. Moreover, there is an option to track gifts and ensure that everyone buys a present on time.

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Holiday Party

What could be better than a holiday party? An informal gathering lets you celebrate the year's achievements and creates a pleasant atmosphere for socializing, making it a hit with colleagues. Consider selecting a theme for the celebration: masquerade, '80s New Year, or The Great Gatsby, to make the party even more fun and engaging.

We've gathered even more ideas for a fantastic holiday party in our article, offering both basic ideas and unique suggestions for your gathering.

Also read:

Top Holiday Team-Building Activities for Remote and Hybrid Teams

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Award Ceremony with Nominations

This is a great event to acknowledge everyone's achievements and uplift the team’s spirit. Create different nominations, such as "Best Team Player" or "Most Creative Employee." Then prepare symbolic prizes or certificates and invite the team to the ceremony. 

Personal Thank-You Letters

Write a personal letter to each individual highlighting their successes and expressing gratitude for their stellar work. It’s best to mention specific achievements, such as completed projects, new collaborations, or creative ideas. Don’t forget to add a festive touch: include a card or holiday sticker to bring a smile to the recipient's face.

Create an environment where everyone can feel their significance and contribution to the company's overall success. Remember, it's important not only to acknowledge achievements but also to inspire the team to accomplish even more in the new year.