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This month will be offering a few tips to keep your stress levels low and your holiday spirits high during this busy season.
The key to success when attending any office function, event or party is preparation and planning. This can be the ideal opportunity to meet someone who can influence your career, so take advantage. Here are some etiquette guidelines to follow:
Attending Office Parties
Yes, you should attend. At least make an appearance and find the host or hostess as soon as possible to extend your thanks for the invitation. Try and work the room as much as possible before you leave. Don't make an obvious exit -- never tell anyone you're leaving because you have another party to attend. It will give the impression the other party is more important and you are only attending this one because you need to make an appearance.
The best rule is to arrive on time or within 15 minutes of the designated start time. Your host may have announcements or food presentations scheduled throughout the evening, which will be geared around the starting and ending time of the event.
You don't have to be the first to arrive and you don't want to be the last to leave. Gauge your time to fit the activities and the size of the crowd. If the crowd is larger, it is much easier to depart without notice. But if it is an intimate dinner or party, you may be required to remain for most of the evening.
Don't Talk Only About Business
Don't come with a car full of portfolios or brochures. Parties are networking opportunities, so leave it at that. You can approach someone to set up a future meeting and exchange business cards, but leave the brochures and proposals at the office.
Before the party, prepare by reading the newspaper or watching the news. Be familiar with the events calendar of your city. You'll always have something to talk about if you stay in-the-know. If you're on the shy side, just remember to ask questions. People love to answer questions about their families, work, hobbies, etc.
Food And Alcohol
When you attend a function in a person's home or even in a restaurant as a guest, the food may be free but it's not your last meal. Drink and eat moderately. Consuming food and drink from the time you arrive until you leave may be the last time you are invited. You can partake in both, but the key is moderation.
Your time should be spent mingling with guests. It can be difficult to carry on a conversation with a prospective client or the president of your company when you have a drink in one hand and a plate of food in the other. Mingle and then ask a client or the person you just met to join you for a drink or some food.
Buffet
When people think of buffets, they often think "all you can eat." Keep in mind you can go back again. Don't stack your plate so high you need help. If the entire table is going through the buffet line, try to start at the same time. When at least two or three people have returned to the table, you can begin eating. It is not necessary to wait for the entire table to return to their places before eating. When you are ready to return to the buffet, leave your plate on at the table so the wait staff will take it away. Always start with a clean plate each time you return for more food.
If you are with a client who does not want dessert, try and bring the dessert back with you when you go for your entrée. However, if you know the client enjoys dessert, then ask at the end of the meal if he or she would like coffee and dessert. You can order the coffee first and then return to the buffet for one or two desserts.
Source: Colleen A. Rickenbacher is a business etiquette expert and author of Be on Your Best Business Behavior, and Be on Your Best Cultural Behavior. She helps clients improve manners, image and communication skills.
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