Party carefully lest it ruins your career

By PETER KAMURI

You have spent the last few weeks organising this year’s office party. You have planned for it to ensure that everything goes well without a hitch.

The hardest part is how to carry yourself in the presence of co-workers and avoid pitfalls often associated with such occasions.

Office bonding

End of year parties offer excellent opportunities for employees to relax and have fun — at times with friends and family members. It is also a moment for bonding — a critical component for workers to continue being productive. For the employer, it is the time  to say ‘thank you’ to employees. Employers also use the occasion  to get feedback. In a hushed workplace, workers may not open up on where they think things are going wrong or what can be done to improve performance.

End-of-year office parties are important annual events in the workplace that no employee would want to miss.  These occasions provide a chance for work mates to interact informally outside the work environment, a good way to strengthen interpersonal relationships.

However, many careers have been ruined during such office parties. If you are about to attend one, you better be on the look out. To survive the festive office party events, make yourself available for the event if you have not formally requested to be away.

This is usually a good opportunity for team building and interaction with other co-workers. But carry yourself with dignity.  Although the office party might be taking place away from the normal workplace, this is a serious business event.

This is not time to bash or ridicule your boss, or to keep on whining. Office parties offer an opportunity for workers to relax and have fun. So keep work related matters to a minimum. You may easily be labeled a bore if you are only talking business.

Career aspirations

These can guard your standing, character, your future career aspirations and your relationship with your colleagues. One of the main questions during office parties is whether to drink or not.

If alcohol is to be available, ensure you do not drink in excess. Too much of it can have a devastating effect on workplace relations and upon your career. That is why you must be careful not to loosen your tongue after imbibing some stuff.

You might become the subject of office gossips in the New Year about how you carried yourself during the party. At worse, you might reveal important company secrets to junior staff. However, your decision to take alcohol can be guided by your office culture and the behaviour of your coworkers.  Individual drinking habits can guide you on whether to drink or not; or the number of drinks you can have. As you make fun, do not compromise on your safety.

Establish before hand if there will be some physical activities such as hiking, playing games or workouts. This will help you to plan in advance and be rightly attired. Be keen on what you eat. In such parties, assorted food will be plenty and mostly it is left to individual’s choice.

 You should be disciplined enough to take only what is necessary. Cases of overindulgence in such parties abounds and can eclipse the intended fun. Ultimately, do enjoy yourself at the party.

However, the way you carry yourself during this year’s office party will define how your colleagues will rate and relate with you in future.

—kamuri@benchmarkpublishers.co.ke