We are delighted to have Diane Craig, an image expert, contribute to our blog with this posting on the tricky subject of etiquette at the holiday office party. Diane is President and Founder of Corporate Class Inc., a corporate image consultancy with offices in Toronto and Ottawa.
Etiquette for the Holiday Office Party
Happy Holidays…but be careful! Your office has scheduled a holiday party and you are excited. Finally, you can spend time with colleagues in a much more casual way, and chill out with those you know well. And, if you are a middle level manager, this is finally a chance to show your group who you really are in an informal setting.
In short, this holiday party is a real chance to get even closer to your buddies.
Right?
Wrong! An office holiday party is still a business/work event. While you can have a pleasant time, this gathering, despite the music, decorations and drinks, still requires you to be aware that you are in a work setting on a different stage. While you might look forward to getting closer to others, the occasion can also incite stress if you are unsure of how to conduct yourself.
Here are some ways of feeling at ease and engaging appropriately with colleagues, bosses and outside guests.
- Think of this evening as a business event in holiday getup, and focus on strengthening your relations with coworkers, as well as making new professional contacts.
- To connect and impress smoothly—with little anxiety—you should prepare some talking points before you arrive so you can keep the conversation going.
But you must avoid the following:
Do not:
- Start a conversation by complaining
- Name drop
- Turn down compliments
- Tease
- Gossip
- Bash your company
- Share personal anxieties
Introductions:
If you are introduced to someone, repeat his or her name after you hear it: “Mary, it’s very nice to meet you.” You may meet many new faces during the party, and this can be a useful trick for remembering names. If you forget, it is better to ask Mary to repeat her name, rather than having an awkward conversation as you struggle to remember if she is Mary, Martha, or Maria. And, if you must introduce her to someone else and you have forgotten her name, you might ask her to introduce herself and be sure to listen attentively.
Managing hunger and drinks with class.
Have a snack before attending the party. There will be food served, whether as a sit-down meal or a cocktail reception, but you do not want to focus on satisfying your hunger. Your primary purpose should be to connect with other guests.
Limit your alcohol intake. If you get fuzzy, the staff will remember it when they return to the office in the New Year, and your business image will have changed.
Most holiday parties include some form of meal, and you will want to brush up on your professional dining etiquette. The party could involve a sit-down dinner, or the host may simply offer cocktails and appetizers. Either way, you should be aware of the basics of dining etiquette.
For a more formal dinner, wait until the host sits or instructs guests to sit. No matter how lovely your purse or evening bag may be, do not place it on the table – hang it on your chair, or place it on the floor over a napkin if you must. Wait to begin eating until everyone has been served. As you eat, be sure that you are using your own bread plate and glassware. A good way to remember the standard place setting is to think of “BMW” – “Bread – Meal – Water” (bread plate on the left, meal in the middle, water on the right).
If the meal takes the form of cocktails and appetizers, be sure to always have one hand free while eating. Try this: alternate between carrying a drink or a small plate of food in your left hand, to enable you to shake hands with your right.
Once the meal is over, there may be a band or disc jockey inviting you to the dance floor. Limit your sexy moves and the urge to flirt with co-workers.
Gift-giving:
Finally, consider what appropriate gift-giving is in the context of an office party. If the party is held at someone’s home, do bring the host gift. A fine box of chocolates or bouquets of flowers are both reliable options. If you bring flowers make sure they are in a vase, or have them delivered prior to the dinner so your host doesn’t have to run around looking for a vase. Include a seasonal note or card thanking the host for the time spent planning the party.
If the party is held at a restaurant or hotel, be sure to thank your host before leaving and send a thank you note to those who were involved in organizing this holiday office party. Some offices like to draw names and set a spending limit. Don’t try and outshine the rest of the team by spending more. If the name you picked is someone you feel you should or would like to give something more substantial, do it separately. If the presents are meant to be fun, be tasteful in your choosing.
Simply knowing what to expect from the office holiday party can relieve the stress of navigating this business social event.
In our next blog, we’ll cover the dress codes!
