ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, December 15, 1996 TAG: 9612140003
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: 1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: L.M. SIXEL HOUSTON CHRONICLE
Some people figure that the company's annual holiday celebration is just another party on the road to New Year's Eve. But just because the booze is free, don't think it's OK to swing from the chandelier.
``Some people may view it as a party, but it's still a business event,'' said David Beshear, a bureaucrat in the Texas capital of Austin who's been to his share of holiday parties. ``It's not the time to let down your hair.''
Drinking leads to openness - like telling the boss what you really think of him - which is exactly what you shouldn't do at a Christmas party, Beshear said.
Although a company holiday party can be a minefield, don't pass up the opportunity to attend. Holiday parties provide a great chance to socialize with people you don't normally see, schmooze with the boss and talk colleagues about things other than work.
Some folks shrug off office-party invitations, presuming the events will be boring. They may be dull affairs, but it's important to make an appearance, Beshear said. ``If you don't, you may send the message that you don't want good relationships.''
Holiday parties also are a great way to meet people you don't know, said Claire Stoddard, senior vice president of Drake Beam Morin, a job placement company in New York City.
You may not be looking for a job now, but you always need to keep your contacts up, said Stoddard, who plans to attend a lot of holiday parties this year. That goes double for job seekers who should glom on to their friends' and spouses' holiday parties.
Parties offer a relaxed setting that makes it easy to meet people who might know about job openings, Stoddard said. But you have to be low key, she said. Don't pass out your resume or complain about your boss. Instead, get someone's card and ask if you can call the following week to speak about possible job openings. ``When you ask over the eggnog, no one will say no,'' she said.
A company holiday party is not the time to corner the boss to discuss business matters. That's the biggest mistake people make at office parties, said John A. Griffin, partner and practice leader for global energy services at Heidrick & Struggles, an executive recruiting firm in Houston. ``They don't know how to cut it off.''
If you want to make a good impression, look for common interests with someone you'd like to know better, he said. Maybe you both came from the same state, or you share a hobby, or you both attended the same school, Griffin said. Or maybe your colleague is a member of the symphony society, so mention how much you love to attend the symphony. Don't forget to bring your manners with you.
A company party is not the place to wear see-through clothing, said Annie Cater, who teaches corporate officials about proper dress, etiquette and table manners. ``Don't bring out your Wonder Bra at a company Christmas party,'' Cater said. Men who don't wear an earring at work shouldn't wear it at the party.
Dates are another bugaboo. Don't - under any circumstances - invite one, unless your invitation says you can. And then, think about whether your intended date is the type of person who's comfortable meeting a lot of new people. ``Don't bring someone who sits in the corner,'' Cater said.
Christmas parties are a time to mingle, and it's important to demonstrate that you view everyone as important, said John Rau, dean of the business school at Indiana University in Bloomington. It's important, especially for managers, to spend time meeting and greeting junior-level employees who don't work for them, said Rau, who used to host holiday parties when he was the chief executive officer of two banks in Chicago.
It's not a good sign when all the senior-level employees are clumped together, all the midlevel managers are standing in another group, and lower-level employees are in a third area, Rau said. That just reinforces the perception that the company has too much structure.
So when you go to your party this year, keep all this in mind, and stay away from low-hanging chandeliers.
``The whole key is to have a good time - but not too much of a good time,'' Beshear said.
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