Office Party Ettiquette: manners, clothes, make up and booze by Vancouver stylist and host of Urban Rush's Style Guide Maeve Doyle
Office Party Etiquette: clothes, hair, make up and booze There is no better way to ruin a good reputation than at the annual Christmas office party. The book keeper, receptionist, cleaning staff socializing with salespeople, executives. With that said there is no
better way to create a good impression either. Believe it or not
there are many people who enjoy getting to know their co-workers on a social level. Whether you are for are against office parties, there are fundamental rules of etiquette that can make you successful during the holiday season.
1. Attendance
It's never optional to skip the annual Christmas party, it's part of your job to go and to have a good time or at least to grin and bear it.
2. Endurance.
Stay for at least an hour, anything less is an obvious sign to everyone that you didn't really want to come. Even if you are not thrilled to be there stay at the party long enough to be seen by your immediate supervisors, if you have them. If you are the supervisor, boss, CEO treat the Christmas office party like a business meeting, try to say a few words to everyone you work with.
3. Conversation
Have something to talk about other than work, or better still practice a few tricks to allow the other person to talk and just look interested. Do not use the Christmas party as an opportunity to corner your colleagues, boss, supervisor, manager with work whines, they are trying to escape and have fun too. If your office party
includes spouses make conversation with them too. When else will
you have the opportunity to dazzle the CEO's husband or wife with your charm and charisma or better still, listening skills?
4. Clothing
Repeat after me, the office Christmas party is still business. Ixnay on the gold lame! Put away your cleavage, take off the party face
and repeat after me "the office Christmas party is still work". Men
, dark pants, a collared shirt (that has seen an iron), dress shoes and a jacket. Ladies, office to evening rules apply and if your party outfit isn't suitable from 9-5 with a few adjustments, a suit jacket and flat shoes let's say than - don't wear it! At 5pm change your shoes, remove the jacket and reveal either a tailored trousers with a feminine top or a simple LBD.
5. Food and Alcohol
If there is even a chance that you might overdo it with alcohol, don't do it at all. There are cameras at Christmas parties and
although you are not Lindsay Lohan or David Hassel hoff a few photos
of you after "one too many" that will rob you of your good reputation, in much the same way it did them of theirs. Resist the urge to strap on the feed bag, people will notice you are piling a plate with hors d' oeuvres. Step away from the buffet table, your job tonight is to mingle.
If all this strategizing sounds like an episode of Mad Men, than I am getting my point across loud and clear. Parties are politics and office parties are equivalent to an election campaign so play it safe and play by the rules.
