The company holiday party is poking its head around the corner. Be sure you are prepared with the correct business etiquette and social charm!

When it comes to any work related social function the cardinal rule is to remember that regardless how fun the atmosphere is it is all about “business.” Do not make a silly mistake and risk damaging your professional reputation, advancement opportunities, or growth potential due to one evening of inadvertent slip-ups.

Holiday Party Tips…

• Moderation – Eat, Drink, Be Merry- but do not overindulge. The office holiday party is an excellent occasion to have a good time. Where else will you find the President of the company bellied up to the bar with one of the delivery drivers? But keep in mind- alcohol added to you and your boss can equal a serious “open mouth, insert foot” type of situation… If you choose to drink use moderation.

• Attire – What to wear, what to wear… Keep in mind that this is a business function. You should not approach your attire the same way you would if you were going clubbing, out on the town with your party friends, or to the local meat market.
o Ladies, leave anything short, tight, or revealing in the closet.
o Men, the same rules apply! PLEASE!
You have worked hard to create the image and perception your coworkers have of you. Revealing to many of your “personal assets” at the company holiday party can not only alter a colleagues or managers assessment of you as a capable professional, it can also lead to drawing the wrong type of focus from other overindulgent party goers, or other embarrassing situations.

• Schmooze – Get to know, get known. The holiday party may be one of the few opportunities you have to even meet the CEO, VP’s or other company officials. It is time to shine. Introduce yourself and make yourself visible to the management crew. Make an effort to go outside of your comfort zone. Don’t spend the entire time with your regular office cronies… Mingle a bit- enjoy the party get to know people from other areas in the company if possible.

• Guest list- Are you on it? You should never assume. Make sure you have an invitation and can go. Avoid an embarrassing situation… This also applies to your guests. Some companies invite significant others, others don’t. Be sure you know who you can bring before you show up with them turning your holiday party into an uncomfortable situation…

• Formal Recognition – If you are a top level employee, a great performer, or are due for some appreciation one thing that is common at the company holiday party is to be honored with a toast. If you are, accept the honor gracefully and with dignity. Don’t drink to yourself or clap when others are applauding you. Also extend your gratitude and offer a reciprocal toast to the person who mentioned you. Thank them for the recognition and express your appreciation tactfully.

• Fashionably Late, Staying to long… – Little things are noticed. Never be the first to arrive unless you have an assigned task or are the party planner- it is a good way to avoid being uncomfortable from the start of the evening. Showing up 20 minutes before the event is over is also a major boo-boo in the company holiday party world. People might think that you did not want to be there and are simply “making an appearance.” On the other extreme, don’t party all night and stay until the sun comes up… Your colleagues and managers will notice these errors in judgment.

• Manners, Manners, Manners… Always thank the event planner, event coordinator, or the people who put on the event. Gracious thanks to the host or hostess is always appreciated as this person often put out a lot of effort to make sure you would have a good time. Saying thank you and a job well done is a great way to make someone feel good, extend some holiday spirit, and a great way to make you stand out above the many party goers who don’t.

Holiday Party Planners

If you are the holiday party planner, keep these things in mind:

• Diversity is Key… A “Christmas Party” may leave some people feeling a little bit isolated, alienated, or less a part of the group. A “Holiday Party” is a much more acceptable way to term the event so that all your guests feel included.

• Pick a good date/time… Should you hold the event in the evening, daytime, weekday, weekend or weekday? Every company has different needs. Some companies shut down the operation for a day, others shut down early… If you are inviting families/significant others take into consideration school hours, spouses jobs- if you are not inviting children then take into consideration that some employees may have to find baby sitters. Match all those conflicts up with the busy holiday season- and you have a reason to start planning and get those invites out early!

• A central location to everyone. Trying to find a place within a few miles from the place of work is typically best. Some companies choose to hold their holiday events at the office- if you have a reasonable facility this can be a great success. Otherwise you can rent an event space!

• Invitations – Clearly convey all information to the invitees. Let them know everything you can
about the holiday event, host/no host bar, spouses/children invited or not, suggested attire, date/time/location, etc… This is a good time to add some excitement about the event, let people know about a raffle, drawing, games, or other draws which are planned!

• Ultimately if you are planning a company event- do your best to put a party together that reflects well on the company as a good place to work. The right location can make a difference, controlling the flow of alcohol, and the interests of the group are extremely important aspects for planning a successful holiday party!

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