An etiquette expert has revealed her top tips on how to avoid awkwardness at your work Christmas party, from what to wear, how much to drink – and how to dance.
This holiday season, employees around the globe will be gearing up for their annual company slide — hoping to avoid a career-ending layoff.
Laura Akano, who is a master trainer and etiquette coach at Polished Manners, has shared her tips on how to leave the party with a professional reputation intact.
Once you’ve received your celebratory party invitation, Laura says it’s essential to RSVP as soon as possible to let planners know how many people are attending.
When planning your outfit, she says the most important thing is to make sure you stick to the dress code on your invitation.
The London-based expert said: “I would always say, please follow the dress code and dress appropriately.
“Especially for the ladies, you have to make sure you’re comfortable. Don’t wear a dress or skirt that you will constantly be taking down or up. You will not enjoy the party.”
Laura says there’s nothing cool about showing up fashionably late, so make sure you arrive at the time indicated on the invitation.
She said: “There’s nothing great about being late to fashion.
“If there’s an invitational time, you have to get there on time because it’s still a work event. It doesn’t look good to be late unless there’s a very important reason.”
After entering the venue, Laura recommends taking a spin to greet your big bosses, especially anyone involved in planning the evening.
She added: “It’s always a good thing to go and say hello to other people and say hello. Especially the team of people who organized the event.
“It’s a great start to go and say hello and thank them for putting everything together. Then maybe take the opportunity to find people you don’t usually work with and get to know them.
“It’s nice to say hello to people and see that you’ve attended, especially senior managers.”
In these conversations, Laura believes it’s best to avoid heavy work topics and keep the conversation light and fun.
Recommended topics include location, decor, and vacations.
She said: “The main topics to avoid are [trashing] company and job gossip.
“You want to keep the conversations light and fun since it’s a party atmosphere. It’s still a work event, so you have to maintain a level of professionalism, but there’s a lot more to talk about.”
The most frequent etiquette question on this topic, according to Laura, is how much alcohol is appropriate to consume.
The expert says the main tip is to know your limits, but she recommends sticking to a few glasses of wine and definitely avoiding shots.
She said: “People really need to know their alcohol capacity. Some people will drink half a glass of wine and feel bad, while others will drink half a bottle and feel no difference.
“A workplace party is not a place where you get drunk and don’t know what you’re doing. You may end up embarrassing yourself and the company as a whole.
“You have to stay in control and make sure you remember all your actions.
“Of course I would frown when I took the shot. Have a glass or two of wine.”
When it comes to food, whether it’s a sit-down dinner or a selection of appetizers, it’s important to still look stylish.
For finger food, Laura says it’s best to hold the glass in your left hand and take canapés one at a time.
She also recommends saying hello to everyone before heading to the food table, as it’s hard to blend in while stuffing your face.
If your party is having a sit-down dinner, then she says it’s best to stick to table manners, making sure you put your phone down and chew with your mouth closed.
When eating your meal, Laura says it’s important to keep an eye on those around you as you don’t want to keep people waiting if everyone’s finished their meal and you’re still eating.
She added: “These things can matter, especially if you’re dining with senior managers. People understand all these things.
“If you have poor table manners, then you’re probably not someone they’re going to send to see a client or take a client out to dinner.
“Little things like that can make a difference.
“You should always try to eat at the same pace as those around you.”
When the food is finished and it’s time to move the party to the dance floor, Laura says you should definitely join in – as long as you don’t try to come up with your own moves.
The biggest mistakes people can make when dancing after one too many drinks include getting up on the table and grabbing the microphone.
Laura said: “You should definitely dance at a Christmas party – in moderation.
“This is not the time to be the life and soul of the party and try to show off. If you try and do your best, you may end up embarrassing yourself.
“Even if you’re not a dancer, it’s polite to join in when everyone is dancing. Even if it’s just a few shuffles on the floor, at least it shows you’re a member of the team.
“Watch out for people who have already consumed too much alcohol and think they’re going to be entertaining in a very awkward way. We’ve all had stories of people jumping on a table or something and then it’s the office gossip for the next few weeks.”
At the end of the night, if any sparks are flying between colleagues, Laura advises against starting any form of romance in the office – as they tend to end badly and cause a lot of problems.
As for when it’s time to leave the venue, etiquette isn’t too strict, as long as you don’t overstay your welcome when the staff have started cleaning up.
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