Besides this and much else, it also signifies that the office Christmas party is just around the corner. Your survival guide to the office Christmas party.
Eagerly awaited and dreaded in equal measure, this annual event serves as a chance to let your hair down with colleagues and reflect on what you’ve collectively achieved over the course of the year. However, the thought of spending an evening of music, dancing and small talk with your co-workers may strike terror into your heart – particularly if your festive energy is more akin to that of the Grinch than Buddy the elf. In reality though, provided you take note of the “do’s and don’ts”, the Christmas party can actually be a lot of fun. Your survival guide to the office Christmas party.
Enjoy responsibly
We’ve all heard the alcohol-related horror stories surrounding the office Christmas party. Those unfortunate individuals who’ve gone a little too heavy on the complimentary drinks and ended up making a drunken pass at a colleague, or even gone so far as to challenge their manager to a fistfight (did somebody ask Santa for a P45?). Your survival guide to the office Christmas party.
While such tales may have gone down in legend among office workers up and down the country, they’re hardly shining examples of how to conduct yourself at the Christmas party. I don’t want to sound like a party pooper – on the contrary, those who enjoy a drink should feel free to do so – but you need to remember where you are. While people are generally more relaxed at the Christmas party than they are in the office, bear in mind that you’re not on a night out with the lads, or a prosecco and cocktail-fuelled binge with the girls. Your bosses are present, and probably keeping a close eye on you – even if they don’t appear to be.
So, by all means, raise a glass in celebration, but just make sure not to have as many as you might on a typical Saturday night. Eat plenty beforehand, avoid mixing your drinks, take your time, and have a glass of water if you feel like you’re reaching your limit. Stick to these principles, and you should manage to get through the night without doing or saying anything you might live to regret!
Don’t sit it out
If you’re the kind who’d happily strike the entire festive period off your calendar, you might be considering sacking off the office Christmas party altogether. You certainly wouldn’t be alone if this is the case, with a survey commissioned by Reward Gateway revealing that a massive 54% of employees dread the occasion.
Attendance may be optional, but showing your willingness to spend time with colleagues outside the confines of the office can help to demonstrate that you’re a team player; someone who doesn’t work purely to pick up a paycheque. On top of this, it can be a great opportunity to get to know your co-workers better, helping to bring you closer together as team.
By conquering your fears and throwing yourself into the festivities, who knows, you just might end up actually having a good time!
Avoid controversial talking points
After a year jam packed with more deadlines and boring team meetings than you care to remember, it’s totally understandable that you won’t want to spend your evening talking to colleagues about work, and all the stuff you need to pick back up when you return in the New Year.
Offices tend to bring together people with a broad range of ages, ethnicities, sexual orientations, etc., so it’s likely that co-workers will have different ways of viewing the world due to their diverging experiences.
Don’t forget to have fun
Hopefully, you’re now feeling a bit more prepared to face your office Christmas party here needs read more hear.
