Corporate and business meeting

When the presentation ends and the laptops are put away, colleagues have a different conversation: who helped during a difficult week, what we learned together, what you want to remember. A small communal table can give this conversation more space than a loud program.

Format: A work meeting may include tea, a buffet or dinner; it does not have a single traditional script.
Cultural context: Konakasy is a treat for a guest, one of the expressions of Kazakh hospitality.
Live music: The Kazakh art of dombra kuy was included in the UNESCO Representative List in 2014.

History and meaning

Corporate events, meetings of partners and team tea are modern forms of communication. They can rely on the idea of a warm welcome, which is close to Kazakhstani culture. In the Konakasy tradition, the guest is treated; in the current work meeting, attention begins even before the table - with greetings and introductions to people who previously communicated only through correspondence.

Take care of simple things: where to leave outerwear, who to introduce a new employee to, how to let everyone eat and talk in peace. In a multilingual company, short, clear greetings in Kazakh and Russian are useful, and, if necessary, translation for guests. When these details are thought out, the meeting becomes more collaborative faster.

Customs and table

Start with gratitude

Ask the organizer to name a specific overall result and the contributions of the different participants. For a small team, short personal thanks are suitable; for a big meeting - a few stories of the teams, and not a list of positions and achievements of management.

Leave room for getting to know each other

Next to the treats, you can place cards with names and a conversation question: “What pleasantly surprised you this year?” This makes it easier for a new employee to find someone to talk to and join in the conversation, even if he doesn’t know many people yet.

Listen together

If the team wishes, invite a musician to perform a short kui and tell its name. Dombyra kuyi is an instrumental piece for dombra. A separate pause for listening is kinder to the performer than loud music over a business conversation.

A treat that helps the meeting

For a short break, we offer tea, water, small pastries and separate containers with dried fruits and nuts. Sign the composition; the overall mixture is inconvenient for a person who avoids one ingredient. For a buffet table, portions that are easy to take with one hand will be useful, and for a long evening - a full menu. The tea selection does not replace it.

Guests and hosts

Practical tips for preparation

If you are invited

Confirm participation and specify the format of clothing, especially if a walk is planned after the office.
Introduce new colleagues to your interlocutors; Give the person the option to skip the game or group photo.
If gifts are provided, follow the general agreement and do not compare their costs in front of colleagues.

If you are hosting

Explain the purpose and duration of the meeting; Please check in advance whether there will be personal expenses for participants.
Make non-alcoholic drinks and a quiet area available for those who have difficulty talking to music.
Divide the budget between food, venue and programming so that decorations don't crowd out the guest experience.

Sources and reading

About cultural customs - according to the materials below. Tips for organization - recommendations from the editors.

How to prepare

For a short meeting, reduce the norm to 50–60 g. For an evening corporate event, leave the full calculation and add 10% of the reserve.

Specify the duration of the meeting.
Gather information about employee allergies.
Place napkins nearby and label the products.

Do not mix nuts with other foods if there may be people with allergies among your guests.

85 g per guest. Calculator and recipes are available on this page.

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