Etiquette Advice for Christmas Party Guests and Hosts
The holiday season is a great time of year to celebrate, acknowledge and show appreciation to people that mean a lot to us; our clients, our colleagues, friends and of course family members. It can also cause some anxiety because of uncertainly around the etiquette for business entertaining, protocol for gift giving, even what’s appropriate dress.
Business or Social?
Let’s talk specifically about the office holiday party. Is it a business or a social event? Trick question, it’s a bit of both. Moderation is the operative word for successfully negotiating the office party. Celebrate the season, but treat it like the business event it is and you won’t go wrong.
Here are some etiquette tips that you can use to finesse the holiday season and beyond and take the guess work out of looking and acting your best, regardless of whether your role is that of a guest or a host.
Hosting Tips
3 Things to do if your organization is hosting the event
1 – Crystal clear
When it comes to the invitation make sure it is clear and specific so that people know exactly where they’re going, whether they can bring guests, and what the dress code is.
2 – Game plan
It’s helpful to establish a game plan with your team prior to hosting any event. Appoint some key people to act as ‘official hosts’, especially important if clients and guests outside the organization are attending. They can greet people at the door, and introduce them to other guests or colleagues. This is where a pre-event game plan comes in handy. Everyone in the organization needs to be coached on taking on the role of host. And if you know that certain guests are more introverted then make sure you team them up with a colleague that is more extroverted.
3 – Liquor limiting
The third tip involves managing potential land mines such as excessive drinking. Make sure you have plenty of tasty non-alcoholic beverages on hand. It’s easier to nip things in the bud than having to do damage control afterwards. From candid conversation with office managers and HR professionals I’ve heard horror stories about the one person in their organization that got out of control. And usually alcohol is involved. Because some people feel a bit of anxiety in social business situations they may fortify themselves with an extra drink or six and their behaviour then becomes the stuff of legend. If you’re in a leadership or a mentoring role have a little pep talk in advance for all staff to help avoid disaster.
Guest Tips
5 things to do if you’re the guest
1 – The neglected RSVP
Let’s talk RSVPs – the French translation is Répondez s’il vous plaît or respond if you please. It’s courteous to respond within 5 days of receiving the invite to let the hosting organization know one way or another whether you plan to attend. I find that people are pretty cavalier about this. Believe me you will stand out in the right way if you do RSVP.
2 – Show up
When it comes to the office holiday party do make an effort to attend. It can be an excellent opportunity to raise your profile, network with people in other departments and get to know clients or colleagues better.
3 – Pay attention
Be attentive to your partner or guest without smothering them or neglecting them.
If your spouse or partner is invited, it’s good etiquette to introduce them to others and avoid shop talk. You don’t want to neglect them but you don’t want to be joined at the hip either. Introduce them to people who share the same interests as they have and check in with them from time to time.
4 – Avoid land mines
Some conversation topics are as dangerous as holding a live string of Christmas lights while walking on thin ice. To keep the evening peaceful, our advice is to avoid hot-button topics like religion and politics, especially office politics. It can start off innocently enough and then go off the rails.
5 – Last and probably least
You don’t want to be the first to arrive or last to leave. So don’t arrive too early unless you are willing to give a hand setting things up, otherwise you’ll be in the way. The same goes for being last to leave, never a good idea (especially if a lampshade has attached itself to your head).
A little bit of preplanning on the part of the host and the guest will go a long way to ensure the office party is a huge success and remembered for all the right reasons!
More office party tips and advice?
Check out a recent article we contributed to in Investment Executive Magazine – Party Etiquette Checklist
Or listen in
Catch my CBC radio interview on holiday season etiquette scheduled for Dec. 8 Alberta at Noon Show. Web address is:http://www.cbc.ca/albertaatnoon/
Other Articles:
- Dining For Success Online Program
- How important is business dress to your successful personal brand
- Savvy networking skills, the key to connecting in business and life.
Roberto, thanks for your comments!
It’s a good idea to attend the annual office party as it give us a rare opportunity to have fun and get to know our co-workers on a personal level.
Christmas (or in this day and age of politically correct comments, Holiday) parties are the best. The themes are endless, it can be done both at the office or offsite and whether or not significant others are invited, its a great opportunity for a company to get together, raise a glass and have fun in an easy and relaxed atmosphere.
Thanks Terry, as usual I trust your solutions to my dilemmas ;-).
Hi Joanne,
I just heard you on CBC radio. Some of callers I would have to say I agree with and some I don’t, especially Shawn. He called in expressing his concerns that some hosts rather than allow him to help themselves to the refreshments, they ask them what he would like.
As a host I always offer my guests a drink and snacks. After the initial offering I ask them to help themselves to whatever I have out. I do however let my sleep over guests to help themselves to whatever is in the fridge if they wake up and are hungry/thirsty during the night.
I do however have a question for you regarding, ‘Who pays the bill’? I have been invited to a birthday party taking place at a restaurant. He did stipulate no gifts, just a card. Now who pays for the meal? Would it be the person hosting the event or are we each required to pay our own way?
Thanks for your comments G.B. Etiquette rules are never black and white which would actually make it easier on everyone if they were.
With respect to your first comment, I think it depends on the relationship you have with the guest. If your guest is immediate family or say first cousins or even very close friends, then it’s just fine to encourage them to help themselves especially if if they are overnight guests. Otherwise, it’s a nice gesture to serve your guests as some may be self conscious to just help themselves.
As for your question regarding who pays if invited to a birthday party at a restaurant. The short answer is the host. The person doing the inviting has the honor of paying, the venue is inconsequential.
Hope this helps.