It’s that time again – the holiday party season.
If your company is having any kind of holiday gathering, you must brush up on these 10 tips from etiquette expert and coach Barbara Pachter, author of EAT! GREET! TWEET!
“Your behavior always matters. It doesn’t mean it’s time to let loose just because you’re out of the office,” says Pachter.
Here are her 10 tips for making this party season a good one at work:
You must attend – sorry, if you’re not a social butterfly, you still have to go. Your absence will be noted by your superiors.
Your dress matters – This is not a club. Dress in a fashion that’s festive but appropriate for all audiences.
Give your date the scoop – make sure he or she understands how to dress, what topics to avoid and make sure they’re not going to do anything that puts you in a bad spot when the party is over.
Prep for conversations – not just shop talk; make sure you’re up on current events, industry news and local issues. This makes for more interesting discussions.
Schmooze – it always gets a bad rap but that’s what a lot of parties really are for. You never know who might be doing your next job interview. Stay positive about everything; no one likes a complainer and make a point to meet people you don’t know at the party.
Do not flirt – this is not a good time to be hitting on your co-workers’ significant others – or your bosses spouse! (Actually, there is never a good time for that…)
Don’t drink too much – that is a sure way to say or do something you’ll later regret. Set a limit for yourself or order a drink you don’t like and sip it slowly all night.
Make a point to say “good-bye” and “thank you” to the host – even better would be to send a thank you note afterward.
Don’t post negative photos or comments on social media sites afterwards. Not appropriate behavior for professionals, or anyone who wants to keep their job.
Parties are for fun and networking, mixing and schmoozing. Have fun but remember who the crowd is and that you’ll have to see them again on Monday morning.
Marijo Tinlin is the editor in chief of Family First, one of the oldest family-oriented websites on the internet. She is also the author of the new book about patriotism and teaching our children to love this country. It’s called “How to Raise an American Patriot, Making it Okay for Our Kids to Be Proud to Be American” and features 13 interviews with patriotic Americans including Ed Meese, Erick Erickson and Jackie Gingrich Cushman. It’s available at www.raisinganamericanpatriot.com.
