I was asked to take lead over planning a baby shower at work for a fellow co-worker. What is an appropriate way of asking via email for help from my fellow team members when it comes to planning, pitching in for food, decorations, etc.? I'm not their boss so I don't want to sound demanding, but I can't do this alone and need help from them in order to make this successful. Any suggestions?
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Something friendly like: "Hi all! I've been asked to lead ___'s baby shower here at work and I would LOVE for you all to be a part of her big day. Let's keep our planning within this email circle, please. Any suggestions for food (pot luck? catering?) and decorations are greatly appreciated (and needed!) :) Thank you!"
Try to figure out if you will be going the pot luck or catering route and find out how much you will need and if you can expedite some out for decorations and such.
I would ask for help directly. There is no way you can do it yourself. I would give a list of chores on an Excel spreadsheet. Attach this to the e-mail. Each person can pick what s/he wants to do. In lieu of doing something, a person can make a cash contribution.
When my kids were little, their elementary school did a thank you luncheon every year for the staff. People either volunteered or gave money. Since I worked full-time, I donated money.
No one will be insulted. If you find that no one is volunteering (unlikely). Give the mother-to-be a gift and card from you alone. You can't control others...
How many co-workers are there? That would be helpful to know. When you send out the email, if you use an established distribution list to send it, be sure to remove the mom to be from the list, so that she won't receive it as well.
At my previous job, we had a lot of birthday, baby shower events! An email is sent out to everyone in the department and just saying so and so is expecting - I am asked to plan a baby shower and if everyone could chip some money for the party/gift that would be greatly appreciated.
And usually we have a sheet of paper and people would write their names who want to participate and put money in the envelope and it'll land back in the hands of the person who is hosting.
Parties are fun, right? How about "calling all party planners" as a subject line? Keep the body of your e-mail light-hearted and fun as well as confident that all your co-workers will want to be in on making the party a success (even if they only have a little time to contribute).
Have fun!
In a way it's better that you're not their boss because then it won't feel like a breach of boundaries or a work requirement. If y'all actually LIKE your coworker, it should be an easy sell.
All the above ideas are great. What I would do to make it more fun is host a party planner brunch or party, provide cheap snacks or do potluck, then plan.
I would email each one and ask if they'd like to help plan the baby shower for... Maybe give a couple of ideas and ask their opinion. Or create a sign up list for others to sign for what they'd like to do.
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