How to Work a Room: HOLIDAY DOs and DON'Ts
DO...- RSVP and say YES when the invitation arrives.
- Organize a potluck if the company has cancelled their annual party. People love the camaraderie.
- Act Like A Host: be interested; pay attention; listen and introduce people to each other.
- Treat Spouses/Guests (yours and theirs) With Respect: introduce them with enthusiasm and include them with eye contact, comments and questions.
- Remember That Holiday/Christmas Parties Are Still Business Networking Events: dress and act appropriately.
- Focus Your Conversation on the Event: The season is the reason. If it's a company sponsored party, you already have a subject for conversation. So, bring your O.A.R. and start the small talk with the items you have in common.
- Observe -- The venue, food or entertainment -- "What wonderful ambiance! Didn't Pat and Joe do a great job planning this party and the food is fabulous."
- Ask -- Other guests seasonally topical questions --"Do you have any special plans?" "Do you plan to travel for the holidays?"
- Reveal -- Your ideas, thoughts, plans --"I plan to be on the slopes for the holidays."OR "For obvious reasons we've decided to stick closer to home rather than fight the crowds." Add something lighthearted: "I'm still trying to find a low calorie eggnog recipe."
- Don't Drink Excessively: free drinks have a cost.
- Don't Assume Everyone Celebrates Christmas: and if you don't, be gracious about the error.
- Don't Touch Inappropriately: keep hands (and lips) to yourself; "handle" with care and caution.
- Don't indulge in foods with garlic or onions; bring breath mints.
- Don't forget to detach from the techie toys: smart phones, Bluetooth's (and iPads), and refrain from text messaging, emailing and IM-ing when talking with others.
- Don't kvetch, whine, ridicule, compete, correct, interrogate or brag.
