As the Andy Williams song goes, “It’s the most wonderful time of the year!” The air is crisp, jovial family meals, vacation days, big sales at the mall and the dreaded, er…I mean exciting Office Holiday Party!
In life, we are always seeking opportunities to create special memories to cherish for years. When it comes to the Office Holiday Party, however, many wish to erase embarrassing moments from their minds!
Here’s the deal, your Office Holiday Party is a work function, an almost mandatory work function. Although you might be at a nice restaurant, the same rules of etiquette apply as if you were in your office.
Is your Office Holiday Party coming up? Hoping to make the evening as successful yet “unmemorable” as possible? Heed these 5 tips:
- Go! Set your intention to RSVP and go to your event. Think of this as a fancy work meeting. For many perception is reality, unless you have a legitimate reason, being a no-show can be easily misconstrued as not being a team-player!
- Resistance is key! Resist the temptation to drink too much. Yes, the bar may be open, but this is not 5 o’clock happy hour at the saloon down the street! Consider consuming only a couple drinks or risk saying or worse doing something that you will regret in the morning!
- Be polite with the business bite. Now is the not the time to hoover your Chicken Parmesan dinner! Instead, try slicing your food into smaller bite sizes (known as the business bite!) that can be easily chewed. To read my other tips on Dinner Etiquette, click here!
- Dress to Impress! Remember, this is an office event. Gentlemen, unless otherwise specified, a sport coat should be worn. Save the jeans and t-shirt for hanging out with family and friends. Ladies, to refrain from being tomorrow’s gossip around the Keurig, select an outfit that fits and flatters your figure. Save the little black dress that is too tight and too revealing for the nightclub!
- Prepare + Practice = Power! You might be wondering, prepare, practice…? What? One way to alleviate office party nerves is by doing a little homework ahead of time. Find out who is on the guest list; include checking for your boss.* Then put together a few questions to ask each person to “break the ice.” Ask about their families, hobbies or recent travels. You can also offer compliments for projects completed or glowing client testimonials they’ve received. (*Try to make an effort to chat with your boss. This is the perfect venue for each of you to get to know each other in a more relaxed environment.)
So sing, dance, sip and dine. Just don’t swing from the rafters or blurt out your secret crush on your co-worker! Otherwise this most wonderful time year can easily become your worst for years to come!
Happy Holidays everyone!
