Holiday Party Networking Game for First-Time Facilitators
So you've been asked to run the icebreaker at your company holiday party, and you've never facilitated one before.
Maybe you're in HR, maybe you're on the social committee, maybe you just said yes in a meeting. This one's for you.
Why Teams Don't Mingle at Company Holiday Parties
Here's what usually happens at holiday parties. People grab a drink, find the colleagues they already sit with, and stay there all night.
Sales sticks with sales. Engineering finds the bar.
New hires, and remote folks meeting everyone in person for the first time, end up on their phones.
Nobody's doing anything wrong. There's just no reason to walk up to someone new.
A holiday party networking game gives them that reason.
How the Holiday Party Networking Game Works
Every guest gets a conversation prompt on their phone, like "Find someone who has a holiday tradition from another country" or "Find someone from a team you've never worked with."
They go find a person who fits, have a real conversation, then unlock their next prompt.
In 15 to 20 minutes, most people have talked to a handful of colleagues they wouldn't have otherwise.
Will a Networking Game Work for My Holiday Party?
If your party has 20 to a few hundred people and they're mostly standing and mingling, yes.
It works best right after food is served and before the music gets loud.
It's the same format event organizers use at conferences, company kickoffs, and orientations to get different groups talking.
1. During the networking session
Introduce Jam Bingo to get attendees started.
2. Attendees scan to participate
Guests open their phone camera and scan the QR Code.
3. A conversation starter to connect
Each guest receives a tailored conversation starter.
4. The exchange: get people talking
After chatting, scan the other person's QR Code to mark the connection and unlock your next prompt.
How to Run a Holiday Party Networking Game in 4 Steps
- 1. Pick 10 to 15 prompts. Make them about stories, not trivia, and add a few that push people across teams.
- 2. Set it up so each guest gets prompts on their phone. Jam Bingo does this for you, so there's nothing to print.
- 3. Take 30 seconds to explain it: find someone who matches your prompt, chat, then get your next one.
- 4. Let it run for 15 to 20 minutes, then call time.
What a Holiday Party Networking Game Needs and Costs
- Time: 15 to 20 minutes at the party, about 5 minutes to set up
- Money: free to start
- Prep: a short list of prompts
- People: one host to kick it off, and guests with their phones
Hosting a holiday party this year? Create a Jam Bingo to help every team meet someone new.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a good networking game for a company holiday party?
A find-someone-who game on phones works well. Each guest gets a conversation prompt, finds a colleague who fits it, has a real chat, then unlocks the next prompt.
How long should a holiday party networking game last?
15 to 20 minutes at the party, with about 5 minutes of setup beforehand.
When is the best time to run an icebreaker at a holiday party?
Right after food is served and before the music gets loud, while people are standing and mingling.
How many people can play a holiday party networking game?
It works for 20 to a few hundred guests, as long as they're mostly standing and mingling.