As the year begins to wind down and the festivities start to spread, companies around the country prepare for that one night of the year where being caught drinking alcohol with your colleagues is deemed acceptable – the office Christmas party.
This is a unique event on the calendar as it is a chance to take a rare glimpse of your work colleagues outside of the professional working environment.
Have you ever wondered what Janice from Human Resources is like after a few glasses of white wine or if your suspicions about Alan from the post room are true? All of these questions can be answered, but at a price.
Christmas parties are synonymous with laughter, tears, intoxicated employees and for the most part, social anxiety. For some, the idea of a large gathering of people you work with in a relaxed environment can be a foreboding one.
At work you just have to do your job and occasionally acknowledge the people around you in conversation. But away from the keyboard and spread sheets, it’s just you on display with no escape strategy. But fear not, we have a few tips to help you survive this event. Just think of yourself as Bear Grylls in formal wear.
There is nothing worse than being at a party and finding yourself standing alone. It is the definition of awkward. People around you are busy laughing and joking, while you get your phone out hoping no one sees you. So just join the group you feel most comfortable in, even if you don’t speak much, it lets people know you are part of the crowd.
If your office party involves some form of group activity, whether it is bowling, paint balling or sushi making, no matter what your nerves are saying, just do it. Who cares if you mess up on something? You got stuck in and shared a moment that everyone around you will remember fondly. Unless the activity involves sharp objects.
Those two words “free bar” may sound appealing but they could lead to the biggest faux pas of all – getting very drunk. Just remember that you see these people for eight hours a day for five days of the week, so the way you behave will linger long in the memory of your colleagues.
This is the one time of the year where the topic of your job can be left at your desk. When on a night out, no one wants to hear about your presentation on fiscal reports, just talk about yours and your colleagues’ interests. It gives you a chance to get to know everyone better and makes the environment once you are back at work that little more relaxed in the process.
This one is key to the whole operation. Just relax and enjoy yourself. If you try and be fake around your colleagues, then it makes life a lot more difficult for you. So go with the flow and don’t worry if you can’t get on with everyone. The world wasn’t built for everyone to get along.
So there you have it, the bare essentials to surviving the office Christmas party. Now go forth and put these methods to good use. Merry Christmas.
Story: Chris Grigorovsky
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