DECEMBER 2, 2003
Get
the Party Started…Business Holiday Hoopla
‘Tis
the season. Yes, it’s that time of year again,
and along with all the other holiday hoopla, your company’s
office party and other business related events are just
around the corner. Just remember that these events are
not going to be the big parties of your social lifetime.
In fact, my words of advice to you are to treat these
as true business events and do everything in moderation.
Whether your party is at a big hotel, a local restaurant,
a partner’s home or the employee cafeteria, the
rules remain the same:
1.
You Must Show Up! No excuses. You should attend
all events that honor staff, host clients, impresses
customers, thank vendors, or engage with colleagues.
2.
Dress Appropriately for each occasion. Ladies,
your outfit should be neither too sexy, nor too frumpy.
Be current. Don’t dig up that cutesy top that
has Santa and the full team of reindeer appliquéd
with sequins, which has been packed away in mothballs
waiting for another go of it. Go shopping!
3.
Eat and Drink in Moderation: Remember not to
pig out at the buffet table. On the other hand, forget
your South Beach Diet for one night and don’t
pick at the food. Take a few items and actually eat
them, or they will be referring to you as Calista Flockhart
around the water cooler come Monday morning. If you
drink alcoholic beverages, drink enough to be social
but not enough to get overly “happy.” They
say that 98% of all holiday party blunders are alcohol
related. Beware of an open bar!
4.
No Negative Language: Everything is “simply
great:” the food, the venue, the entertainment,
your co-workers, their spouses or their dates, someone’s
dress … All-great! Zip IT! No matter how tacky
you think things are you must smile, be gracious, and
if you can’t say anything nice, be silent.
5.
While we’re on the subject NO GOSSIP:
This is across the board. Do not say anything about
anyone, their business, deals, spouse, and friends.
Nothing. You never know who is on the elevator, or in
the stall in the restroom, or standing next to you while
you are slamming their brother or uncle or daughter.
No gossip!
6.
Pull Out the Etiquette Book: Don’t forget
the introductions. Introduce yourself and your spouse
or date to guests. When you make the introduction say
something about the person that might stimulate more
conversation. “Bob, I’d like you to meet
my husband Tom. Tom, Bob graduated from UT about the
same time as your sister Kelly.” Don’t forget
to introduce yourself to those attending who are in
to upper management, like the company’s president,
CEO, VPs or anyone you feel needs to know you. Lastly,
don’t forget to thank the person who coordinated
the party and all those involved.
7.
Be Friendly: Branch out, meet new people. You
might try being friendlier than you typically are in
the office, but not so friendly that you are discovered
making out in a broom closet with Dwight from purchasing.
Schmooze a little. They say that small talk can lead
to big talk. Focus your conversation on the event and
the holiday season. “Do you have special plans
for the holidays?” “Do you plan to drive
or are you going to fly?” If they say, ”Taking
the Greyhound,” you’re in for one heck of
a conversation. Stay away from work topics if at all
possible.
8.
Do Not Bring the Baby: Enough said here, I
think.
9.
Do not bring a casual date to the Holiday Office Party.
You don’t know how he or she will behave. Face
it, your date could hang out at the open bar all night
flirting with the CEO’s spouse. Or he or she might
be socially inept and hold you back in your effort to
be courteous and connect with others.
10.
Stay an Appropriate Length of Time: Don’t
get there 10 minutes before the party shuts down. Try
to get to the event on time and stay a while. Once the
dancing is well on its way, do a quick Macarena with
the girls in accounts payable, and you're outta there.
Best
wishes for a very happy, wise, and safe holiday season.
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