Navigating the Company Holiday Party
Posted November 13th, 2019
The holiday season is upon us, and companies across the country are holding holiday parties to celebrate the completion of another year and all of the hard work everyone has put in along the way. While many people look forward to these gatherings, they can also represent a range of challenges that lead some to shy away from the events. Luckily, it is possible to navigate the company holiday party in a way that allows you to get invaluable networking time while avoiding certain pitfalls. Here’s how to get started.
Do Plan to Attend
First and foremost, it’s always smart to attend the holiday party. It’s an opportunity to cultivate your professional relationships and potentially expand your network, so it’s best to plan on showing up. Additionally, most people notice who doesn’t attend, and they don’t always look favorably on that decision.
Don’t Ditch Your Professionalism
While a holiday party may be a social event, that doesn’t mean you should approach it as you would a party with friends and family. Make sure to dress appropriately (and in accordance with the dress code, if applicable) and maintain a professional demeanor. Now, this doesn’t mean you have to be serious the entire time. Instead, just keep in mind that it’s a business event, not a personal one.
Do Silence Your Devices
Spending your time buried in your smartphone isn’t going to win you any fans. While at the party, silence any notifications that aren’t genuinely necessary and fight the urge to check your device every few minutes. That way, you can give the other attendees your full attention.
Don’t Over Imbibe
If there is alcohol at the party, make sure you don’t overdo it. Drinking too much could lead you to act irresponsibly or inappropriately, and that could harm your reputation or lead to more severe consequences.
In most cases, limiting yourself to one or two drinks is a safe move. However, if you have any doubts about how you’ll act after consuming any alcohol, it’s better to skip it entirely.
Do Spend Time Mingling
Holiday parties are excellent opportunities to connect with new people. But this can be hard to do if you spend all of your time with people you already know well.
Instead of limiting yourself to your main workplace social circle, spend some time mingling. Seek out new hires and introduce yourself. Find employees from other departments and say hello. Take part in some small talk with whoever’s nearby while pouring yourself a drink.
Similarly, if you are introduced to someone new by a trusted colleague, do more than just exchange names. Engage the person in conversation, striving to make the person feel welcome and included.
By mingling, you can expand your horizons, so it’s worth doing. Plus, it can be a lot of fun, and that’s what parties are all about.
If you’d like to learn more about navigating company holiday parties, the staff at Bayside Solutions can help. Contact us with your questions today and see how our workplace dynamics expertise can benefit you.
