Each year businesses and organizations throughout North
America have office parties or staff barbeques to celebrate a special season or
to thank employees for jobs well done. While they can be fun they can also be
dangerous to your personal and professional image. Many a reputation has been
tarnished or severely damaged by not knowing office party survival skills.
I frequently speak to businesses throughout Canada and the
USA on Humour in the Workplace, Stress Management, and Dealing with Difficult People
and my experience has taught me that the office party can be risky, stressful and
a threat to your job security if you don’t have the necessary coping skills.
But never fear for I am about to offer you 7 sure-fire tips
on how to survive while still having a great time.
1. Don’t get drawn into destructive conversations about the boss. You can listen and say, “That’s interesting.
I didn’t realize you felt that way.”
Whatever you do don’t agree with a toxic comment or get involved in a
toxic dialogue.
2. Don’t let your
hair down at an office party. You aren’t
among close friends who love and admire you in spite of your shortcomings. There are some present who might consider you
a threat and are just looking to identify and exploit a chink in your armour.
3. If you take a
drink make sure you make it last a long time by taking small sips. Alcohol loosens lips and at an office party
your lips should not be loosened. You don’t need your supervisor calling you
into their office the next day saying that they heard from the grapevine that
you had some negative and unkind words to say about them or others at the
party.
4. Be careful what
you contribute to party conversations.
People under the influence of alcohol can easily distort what you say
when they filter it through an alcohol induced haze. Once you say something you can’t take it
back.
5. Throughout the
party roam around taking in everything.
Be friendly, smile, listen and monitor your mouth.
6. Don’t gossip about
other staff members. While you might be curious to know more don’t appear to be
too eager. Just listen. And then keep your mouth shut. You don’t want to get a
reputation for being someone who takes delight in spreading gossip about
others. Remember that speaking ill of others is a dishonest way of praising
ourselves. If you feel a keen desire to
speak about someone say something affirming and positive.
7. Don’t flirt. It’s
just too risky especially if your partner is at the party with you or jealousy
from someone else raises its ugly head.
Do these simple things and have a great time.
Mike Moore speaks and writes on the subject of humour and
stress management. You can check him out at http://motivationalplus.com/cgi/a/t.cgi?mmspeaks
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