It’s been
a long year, and summer has finally arrived. The office Christmas party is a
well-deserved chance to let your hair down and celebrate the wins of 2013 with
your colleagues, right? Wrong. The office Christmas party, while still a
celebration, is an extension of the workplace, so we need to be mindful of our
behaviour. Office parties provide opportunities to bond personally with your
colleagues and supervisors, however inappropriate behaviour can result in you
being fired, overlooked for promotions, or at the very least the subject of
workplace gossip for the next year.
Here are
our 5 tips for avoiding embarrassing situations at your office party this
Christmas:
- Tis’ the season to be jolly, but remember to stay in control of your alcohol consumption. You don't want to be known as the person who would rather take advantage of free drinks than engage with others and respect the organiser's efforts.
- Check dress code expectations in advance. No matter what the dress code is, avoid anything too casual or revealing.
- Make an effort to speak with as many people as possible at the party, not just those you speak with on a daily basis. Remember - a Christmas party with executives or external partners in attendance is also a networking opportunity!
- When mingling with your co-workers, get to know them without getting too personal or invasive. Keep the conversation light and avoid controversial topics or workplace gossip.
- An office Christmas party is not the time for venting frustrations with the company, starting office romances or revealing personal confessions.
If you can keep the top 5 in mind and remember to be yourself, there's no reason why you can't have a great time! This may be a very rare chance to get to know people you don't normally work with and develop a good impression with key decision makers.
We’d like to hear your thoughts! Have you ever experienced a moment where you wish you or a colleague could have really used some X-mas party advice?
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