Holidays are just around the corner and many workplaces will have holiday office parties during the season. It is a perfect, although somewhat stressful, time to impress right people, demonstrate your communication skills and, with any luck, secure some prospects. In our current economy, the last thing anyone wants is to behave in such a manner as to jeopardize their reputation, any chance for promotion or, worst scenario, lose their jobs because of the office parties’ behavior. There are few, but cardinal, rules everybody needs to follow in order to make it through holiday office parties without any casualties.
1.Go easy on alcohol. Everybody knows that alcohol lowers your inhibitions and makes you do or say things you might regret later on. It is never as crucial as during office parties to control your drinking. A friend of mine once related a story which might just convince you. There was a high-level executive who, after imbibing a bit too many cocktails at the office party decided it was a good idea to resurrect his youth- so he jumped on the stage, where the hired band was performing, and slammed some rock-and-roll tunes-not too bad according to some witnesses. Well, it was all peachy and rosy until he decided that the last finishing touch was not to break the guitar, as custom dictates, but to get out his thing and spray unsuspecting and, until the last moment cheering, audience, including his boss. You can picture yourselves how it ended for this particular lover of rock-and-roll. So, the cardinal rule is not to drink. Everybody knows their threshold, so just step three steps (i.e. drinks) back from there and stop.
2.Although it is a party, respect your company’s dress code. As much as you want to show off your new sexy dress, save it for another occasion. Basically, the rule is to dress a bit more festive than you normally do during the workdays, and you will be safe. The last thing you want to do is to outperform your bosses’ wives or provoke some unwanted behavior and comments from your co-workers. Remember, you are not clubbing, you are still, sadly, networking.
3.Watch your mouth. Well, everybody at the parties likes to talk, talk, and talk some more. Here is your golden opportunity to listen to other people. Before you know it, you can learn some new interesting things about your current company, maybe new openings, and whatever else is interesting to you. However, do not lurk around people like a weirdo eavesdropping at other peoples’ conversations. Come up with few several funny/interesting stories before the party to chip in when necessary. To be on a safe side, stick to neutral subjects (kids, pets, weather, sports, etc.). Although, if you want to impress your clients/ boss come up with something novel related to your industry. But, keep it short and entertaining.
4.Do not skip the party without a good excuse. This just does not work in your favor. Unless you have a good excuse (death in the family, accident, etc.), your absence will label you as a non-team player. Unless you are in some creative field where individuality is encouraged, you’d better adhere to general rules such as- arrive, behave, perform to the level of your capacities, and leave in time without any accident. Just do to, team player!
5.Do not bring your kids/relatives/pets to the party. Well, the economy is bad and we are saving any way we can. However, one of the worst things is to try to party at your companies’ expense by bringing your family to the party to enjoy free food and perks! Just skip this notion. Hire the babysitters for youngster, nurses for the elderly, and sitters for your pets. Just common good sense.
Happy Holidays!
