Holiday parties are events at which you can spread a little cheer with team members and clients. They are also times at which all eyes will be on you — so you should make every effort to remain professional and decorous.
“At best, behaving inappropriately might cause others to question your professionalism,” says Gena Griffin, Toronto-based district president of Robert Half International Inc., a staffing services firm. “But at worst, it could cost you [clients] or your job.”
With that in mind, Griffin offers the following suggestions to help you put your best foot forward this holiday season:
> RSVP and attend
Even if you don’t consider yourself to be a party animal, you shouldn’t consider yourself to be too busy to attend a function organized within your team or your professional network.
There are some pretty important strategic reasons why you should attend parties and social events, Griffin says. Writ large, it’s about showing that you are a good colleague. But significant professional capital also is at stake, such as building up referral networks. As the adage goes: some of the best business is done after regular bankers’ hours.
> Don’t play Mr. Dressup
It’s always best to err on the side of caution when selecting your holiday party attire.
A survey by The Creative Group, a division of Robert Half, highlights some of the worst company-party sartorial mistakes: one individual came to a party dressed up as a wrestler; another arrived at a party accompanied by his pet python.
When in doubt, take the conservative option, Griffin recommends.
For other holiday-wear tips, see: Casual Friday: BYB guide to holiday wear.
> Avoid “shop talk”
In the spirit of the holidays, try not to bring up any topics of office politics or company gripes during conversations at a social event.
“One of the last things people want to do outside the office,” Griffin says, “is talk about stuff in the office.”
Not only is this kind of behavior unprofessional, it is also a good way to alienate spouses or partners who may also be attending the event
> Don’t play Paparazzi
While it can be fun to snap photos, Griffin says, you should be conscious of others’ privacy before posting any content on social networks.
You might think a certain light-hearted party photo is entirely harmless, but your colleague or team member might not agree. Therefore, ask permission of all parties before uploading a picture.