Africa-Press – Uganda. So, the office Christmas party is approaching and it is your chance to unwind, let loose, and have a good time after slaving away all year, especially one as challenging as this one has been.
Whereas that is all well and good, bear in mind that it can be tricky since your bosses will be in attendance.
Here are a few tips to help you get through it and leave with your reputation intact.
Dress decently
Yes, it is a party and you want to look different from your usual working self but skimpy dressing, characterised by low necklines and high hemlines will attract the wrong attention and earn you nothing but scorn among your workmates and bosses. The same goes for worn, torn t-shirts, old faded jeans, and shabby hair. Peace Katungi of AZ fashions suggests simple shift dresses with beautiful jewelry or something edgy but nice. “You can dress down with jeans, suspenders, and an office shirt for the women. For the men, a presentable pair of jeans with a t-shirt and blazer is a good choice,” she suggests.
Manage your appetite
What is a party without free food and booze? But much as that is the case, do not heap your plate with everything on the buffet. Instead, keep it minimal. That also means that you should not jump the queue but wait patiently in line until your turn to serve is up. Drinking yourself silly is another trap to avoid. You will not get that promotion you are hoping for if your bosses see you in a drunken stupor or throwing up all over the place simply because you could not hold your alcohol right.
Do not flirt
Stay away from that area whether with the boss, supervisor, or colleague. Aida Nandudu a Human Resources manager says that sexual behavior, in whatever form, discredits an employee. “Someone can even turn around and accuse you of sexual harassment because you had an encounter at an office Christmas party!” she says.
Balance your networking
The office Christmas party is a good chance to rub shoulders with bosses you never thought you ever would talk to but watch your step here. Spending the whole event bootlicking the boss because you seek recognition is not a good idea for they will see right through it. If you get a chance to talk to the boss at the party ask decent questions like business tips or their view on a pertinent issue like a running project. “They will see you as knowledgeable and appreciate you,” Nandudu says. Senior employees should make it a point to interact with junior employees. “When you as a boss come down to their level, at such an event you will be surprised at the knowledge they have and it will help your image by portraying you as approachable,” Nandudu adds.
Keep it short and sweet
We all know at what point the party ends. When the DJ starts playing “Lingala” music continuously and the emcee switches off the microphone, it is the beginning of the end. Know when to leave. Chances are high that the bosses leave first, which gives the rest of the employees more freedom to have fun but that does not mean that you should be the last man standing, because there are no rewards for that. “Leave at a responsible hour both for your own security and reputation,” Nandudu cautions.
