Office Party Dos and Don'ts

Sola A. Adelowo, founder and Certified Image Consultant ImageCube, LLC has tips to get your next promotions at the Holiday Office Party. She explains the difference between showing up not just arriving and how to be beverage savvy among other important tips.

• Show Up, Don ’ t Just Arrive:Simply put, GO to the office holiday party. Decisions about who gets promoted are often based on soft skills - how well you connect or influence others, how you interact socially (1). This is an opportunity for people to get to know you beyond your job title or job duties, use it to your advantage by showing more of your personality.  For individuals in more technical or transactional roles, this is a great opportunity for coworkers to see your sense of humor, what a good listener your are or how well you understand others; let them see more than the transactional nature of your job.  

• Be Beverage Savvy:Even though the party might be open bar or wine is complimentary, whether you're a coworker or guest at the event, help people remember you as a fun, engaging person. To keep your professional edge while you’re enjoying yourself and others, regardless of your drink of choice, drink water between your next glass of wine or bottle of beer. This will ensure you continue to speak clearly and present your best image.   

• Be an Ally, Not Just a Guest: Ask your host what's going on at work; it's nice to know the big picture as a member of the leadership team views it. Whether your host is being considered for a promotion or if are making the most of their current role, now is the time to let them know you’re on their side. Being an ally may even mean helping them gain some additional insights about the company from your perspective. Ultimately you want to connect as people who are on the same team, and create an opportunity to be remembered later.

• Use Their Name:Find at least three opportunities to intentionally use a person's name in a sentence so you remember it.  For example, "It's nice to meet you Andi".  "Andi, please tell me more about what you do."  "Andi, what you do like to do for fun?", or “What is your favorite holiday Andi?" To make a name even more memorable, when you take a break, jot down the names of people you've met on a piece of paper. This will help connect the name with the act of writing, which improves memory. You can also write something you noticed about them, be it hair color or the story they shared. You’ll be a stand out with names in record time.  

• Be a Considerate Host: If you brought someone with you, introduce them to your coworkers! It sounds obvious, but all too often guests or spouses are left out of the loop. Take it a step further, share something your guest and coworker may have in common –for example, a hobby or degree background. This breaks the ice for your guests and your coworkers, and makes you shine as the caring person you are. Plus, it will allow your guests feel included and more comfortable, which is good news for everyone.