“To Party or Not to Party”

The holiday season is upon us and your company's holiday gathering is just around the corner -- time to let loose and party hardy with your colleagues. Right? Wrong.

No matter how festive the occasion, it's still about business. Don't fall off the fast track to success or risk damaging your professional reputation in one night of inadvertent blunders.

Here’s some advice to ensure a smooth, enjoyable evening:

• Eat, drink and be merry -- in moderation. Where else but the office party can you find the CEO and the mailroom clerk bellied up to the bar together? Beware of the spiked eggnog, though. Alcohol plus you and your boss can result in the " I can't believe I said that" syndrome. If you choose to drink, do so with restraint.
• Dress appropriately for the occasion, This rule especially applies to women who sometimes use company parties to “strut their stuff.” Leave anything short, tight or revealing in the closet. You've worked hard to create a professional image, and revealing clothes can alter your coworkers' and manager's perception of you as a competent professional.
• Introduce yourself. The company party is a great opportunity for visibility with the president, CEO and VPs. At the very least, don't spend the entire evening with your regular office buddies. Get in the holiday spirit and mingle with people from other departments.
• Know whether guests are welcome. Spouses and significant others are not always on the guest list. Check beforehand to avoid a potentially uncomfortable evening.
• Know how to take a compliment. If you've been a star performer in your organization this year, you may be honored with a toast. Accept the honor gracefully, but don't drink to yourself or clap when others are applauding you. Also, make a toast to the person who toasted you, thanking him for the recognition.
• Don’t arrive or leave too late. Even if you don't really want to attend, don’t arrive 20 minutes before the end just to make an appearance. On the flip side, don't party into the wee hours either. Coworkers and managers will notice both errors in judgment.
• Thank the people who coordinated the party. They put in a great deal of effort hoping you would have a good time. Saying “thank you” is the nice thing to do, and it makes you stand out from the many employees who don't.

  If you're in charge of planning the party, a few reminders:

• Is a daytime or evening party more convenient for attendees? For employees with children, arranging child care for an evening event may be an issue. If you plan a party during office hours, however, make sure everyone can attend.
• Clearly convey to employees who is invited to the party. If spouses or children are not included, make that clear.
• Plan an event that reflects well on the company. Choose an appropriate location, control the alcohol flow and take your emyeah ployees' interests into consideration.
• Make sure your employees know the dress code.
• Arrange for designated drivers or establish a two-drink minimum for the safety of your employees.

Happy Holidays from the Cynergy Team