Attending a football game, parade or festival with your office colleagues? Learn how to do it right!
Attending an event with office colleagues?Although Christmas office parties are in the rear-view mirror, in Louisiana, there are many events still to come. The New Orleans Saints host their first NFL playoff game on Sunday, January 5 and LSU is in the 2020 National Championship Game on Monday, January 13, 2020. After that, there will be Mardi Gras parties followed by St. Patrick and St. Joseph day parades as well as numerous music festivals.
Attending any of these events with colleagues from your office can be fun but dangerous. If someone takes a photo or video tapes you being inappropriate, this could cost you your job. It can be easy to forget that you are socializing with people you work with, especially when in a party atmosphere.
Here are five helpful hints on how to present yourself while having fun at your next office sponsored event:
1. Dress appropriately.
The way you present yourself to your superiors and colleagues can significantly affect your work life and environment. You don’t want their image of you to suffer for what you choose to wear to the event. If you are confused as to what is appropriate attire, consult the party planner or colleagues who have attended the party before.
2. Make sure you and your guest remain respectful.
If you decide to bring a plus one to the party, make sure that they conduct themselves respectfully. It’s best to avoid any situation where you would get into trouble for somebody else’s actions. You will be judged by the quality of people you surround yourself with, and you want to make sure that whoever you may bring makes a good impression.
3. Remember you are with office colleagues so don’t overdrink.
This tip should be a given. Enjoy yourself, but don’t get to the point where you can’t control yourself. Drink in moderation. If you decide that you are going to drink, make sure that you eat beforehand to avoid getting sick.
4. Talk about more than office gossip.
Use the party as a way to network within your company. It’s also the perfect time to get closer to your work family and to make a good impression with your superiors. Stay on topics that are lighthearted and friendly. Avoid gossip and bringing up issues like sex, religion, or politics.
5. Be sure to thank the host of the party or event.
The host of the party will remember you thanked them and it will make a good impression.
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Christmas is indeed a special time of the year – a time of anticipation and unfortunately for most of us high anxiety. The stress/anxiety of the holiday does not just revolve around family obligations but includes that area of life where so much of our waking time is spent – the workplace.
Gift giving, a central part of Christmas, presents special concerns in an office setting. You must be mindful before purchasing gifts for coworkers, bosses, those who report directly to you and support staff. First, who is included? If you are in a new position, ask fellow workers what is the precedence or if there is a policy in place regarding gift giving. A gift says a lot about how you feel about a person, their worth, and closeness to you. It is almost never a good idea to give a gift that is too intimate like perfume or, God forbid, sleepwear. Another area to be leery of is a humorous or gag gift – unless this is specifically outlined as an office tradition. Remember everyone has a unique sense of humor and what you think is hysterically funny, another might find offensive. Consider the person. Summer sausage to a vegetarian? A nativity set to a Jewish colleague? A large box of chocolates to an obese office mate? A flask for the guy noted to overdo on the rum punch?
USE YOUR HEAD FOR GOODNESS SAKE. YOU BETTER WATCH OUT.YOU’D BETTER BE GOOD FOR GOODNESS SAKE!!! Santa Claus is coming to town.
Consider some of the following guidelines when purchasing a holiday gift for coworkers:
Keep it practical and under $20. (Sometimes offices set an agreed upon limit; this is a good thing.) Some suggestions for practical gifts – desk speakers, picture frames, music gift cards, USB flash drives, ear bud headphones.
Fire up the oven and prepare goodies to share with everyone.
Institute a Secret Santa. That way it is understood that everyone buys one gift and gets one gift. There are so fun ways to do this. Ever heard of dirty Santa where you can “steal” a gift from someone who has already opened his/her gift or go to the Santa sack for something still wrapped?
Arrange and participate in a pot luck dinner or a cookie exchange.
One of my favorites – sponsor a charity such as shopping for a family in need and all contribute to that.
A gift for the boss???
What is a good idea when it comes to gifting the boss? Should you? Will you be seen as a suck up if you do? It is best to not give an individual gift but opt to participate in a group gift – perhaps give a gift to charity in the name of your boss. He has to be thrilled or appear a Scrooge. Bah humbug employees!! According to etiquette expert Emily Post, just don’t do it.
A gift for those that report directly to you???
This is your call but if you do, it should be done across the board. Consider something impersonal such as gift certificates, tickets to the theater or a sporting event, wine, or food baskets.
A gift for helpers and service staffers???
You may want to remember those who support the company in positions that are not always seen yet assist everyone indirectly in accomplishing their jobs. People that clean, work in the mailroom or assist in low profile, minimum wage jobs might appreciate a group gift of money.
And finally, if you have a few coworkers who are special to you and you want to remember them at Christmas, be discreet in gifting them. Perhaps you could give your gift outside the office. It is also a good idea to cover possible embarrassment and have a few wrapped, impersonal, non-gender specific gifts to give to someone who surprises you with a gift.
“What I don’t like about office Christmas parties is looking for a job the next day.” Phyllis Diller
Happy Holidays to all and check yourself for the office Christmas party – be sure to check out this related post Holiday Office Party mishaps.
Tonight we’re going to party like its 1999! Let’s NOT.
You moon the wrong person at an office party and suddenly you’re not ‘professional’ anymore.
How come stupid things seem so smart while you are doing them?
Haven’t gone to your office Christmas party yet? Awaiting an office New Year’s Eve Party? Take some time to think about this unique “social” situation. Remember the operative word in office party is “office.” Susan Adams of Forbes Magazine stresses that these are professional functions and even though they are relaxed and designed to be fun, remember you still must be a professional. Listen as much as talk. And talk about safe topics like movies, books, hobbies – NEVER religion or politics.
Social media is always lurking and you are just a handy cell phone video away from being a u tube sensation, possibly an unemployed one. Some golden rules for holiday party etiquette are simply common sense and proper etiquette in any setting, but it doesn’t hurt to give some thought to these suggestions just in case the hustle bustle of the holidays have given you a brain fog.
Don’t drink too much – in fact, don’t consume too much of anything; don’t hover over the bar or the buffet table. Stick to a two drink maximum. If you know you might have a problem, stay home.
Be prepared for small talk – Have some topics in mind. Strike up conversations with people you don’t know.
Keep your hands off and eyes up. Even if a female coworker is showing skin and possibly flirting, remember your sexual harassment training.
Don’t skip the party – see exception in rule 1.
Exit early. Make an appearance, keep it professional, navigate the party like a job.
Some of these are repeats of warnings to limit alcohol and the need to cultivate the art of appropriate small talk. See if you agree with them?
Do make proper introductions – prepare ahead and practice recalling names.
Don’t talk gossip, politics, or religion.
Do put away your phone. You don’t want to look distracted or bored.
Don’t bring gifts to bosses and managers, unless the group has gone in on one.
Do dress appropriately. Err on the side of being more formal.
Do say thank you. Seek out those responsible for planning the party and thank them for their efforts. Consider following up with a written note.
I’m guessing that you are remembering some hilarious faux pas, indiscretions, bloopers, misjudgments, and social blunders that you have witnessed at office holiday parties in the past. What great water cooler stories have come from those! I don’t know how much validity is found in magazine surveys , but “Men’s Health” recently reported that 44% of men admitted to “hooking up” at the office holiday party – SCARY. Did they provide people and company names in those surveys?
SO —THINK BEFORE YOU PARTY. EVERYONE WANTS THE HOLIDAY PARTY TO BE MEMORABLE BUT NO ONE WANTS TO BE THE REASON IT WAS.
Additional Resources:
Passing Out, Making Out, and More: Holiday Office Party Confidential 20/20 ABC News Video Clip: Holiday Party Confidential
