Self-Assessment: Holiday Office Party Savvy

Make sure you know how to balance business with pleasure. Take this quick and fun self-assessment, based on the writing of Lydia Ramsey, author of Manners That Sell—Adding the Polish That Builds Profits. Then compare your responses to the correct ones at the end.

1. Should I attend the holiday office party?

1. Absolutely
2. Only if you have nothing better to do
3. Only if your boss will be there

2. What should I definitely find out before the party?

1. The name of the caterer
2. Whether the vodka will be Stoli or a cheap house brand
3. Who has been invited

3. Is my family invited?

1. It’s understood that you can bring your spouse or a date
2. Only the person/people to whom the invitation is addressed should attend
3. It’s OK to bring the children; the company shouldn’t expect you to pay a babysitter
   

4. How long should I stay at the party?

1. Make an appearance for 10 minutes, then leave
2. Long enough to speak to all of the key people
3. Until half hour after the time it’s supposed to end

5. What should I wear?

1. It’s OK to pull out that revealing dress—it’s a party!
2. Check with party organizers to find out what’s appropriate
3. Don’t worry about it—it’s a social, not a business, event

6. How much should I eat and drink?

1. You work hard; it’s OK to eat and drink as much as you want
2. Don’t drink at all; it’s unprofessional
3. Drink in moderation

7. Is it all right to dance on the table with a lampshade on my head?

1. Yes, if you work for a lampshade manufacturer
2. Yes, if you are a Broadway dancer
3. Yes, if you want to be the topic around the water cooler the next day

Correct Responses:

1: A. Absolutely.

Don't even consider NOT going, unless you have a justifiable conflict. The office party is part of your job. Its purpose is to bring together co-workers and colleagues for a bit of camaraderie and some well-deserved recognition. If this is not your idea of a great time, then just consider it work, put on your best attitude and go.

2: C. Who has been invited

If you assume that just your department or your work team have been invited, you may not be prepared to interact with everyone else. Any sort of business/social event requires advance preparation. Knowing who will be there will allow you to pre-plan appropriate topics of conversation for each person—a critical step to a successful venture.

3: B. Only the person/people to whom the invitation is addressed should attend

If the invitation reads "and family," take the kids. Otherwise leave them at home with the babysitter. Unless your spouse is mentioned or the envelope is addressed to your name "and guest," show up solo.

4: B. Long enough to speak to all of the key people

Stay long enough to speak to everyone there—assuming there is not a cast of thousands. With a large crowd, interact with as many people as possible, especially the key people, including your boss. You need to remain at the event for at least an hour or you will give the impression that your appearance was merely perfunctory.

If you are having a grand time, check your watch. Leave before the party time has elapsed. If the invitation stated from 5-7, don't stay one minute past 7 o'clock. You don't want to be thought of as part of the clean-up crew, unless that is the next job you want to have.

5: B. Check with party organizers to find out what’s appropriate

Remember that this is the office party. Keep your guard up when deciding how to dress. This is not the time to show up in your most revealing outfit. If the event is immediately after work, business attire is appropriate. If the party is later in the evening or on the weekend, your choices will vary depending on the type of event. If you aren't certain what to wear, check directly with your host or with co-workers whose taste and judgment you trust. Make sure that what you wear reflects well on you professionally.

6: C. Drink in moderation

Whether the event is a reception with light hors d'oeuvres or a full buffet, keep moderation in mind. You are not there for the food. You are there for the fellowship, so resist the urge to fill your plate to overflowing. The person who goes through the line first and takes all the food will not be remembered fondly or invited back.

Drink in moderation. Alcohol and business rarely mix well, so limit your consumption. View the event as an opportunity to build business relationships and to promote yourself. You will want to keep your wits about you because your after-hours conduct will have a direct bearing on your business future.

7: A, B, and C.

The holiday party is not the time to let you hair down. What you say and do on one Saturday night in December will live on for a long time in the memories of your associates. If your behavior is inappropriate, your career may be shorter than you'd like. If you conduct yourself with charm and savvy, you'll give yourself a strong boost up the ladder of success

Enjoy yourself, but keep in mind that this event is first and foremost about business. In other words, you don't want to have TOO much fun!

Learn more at these AMA seminars:

Projecting a Positive Professional Image, #2274

Moving Ahead: Breaking Behavior Patterns That Hold You Back, #2255