How to Survive the Holiday Party with Your Dignity Intact

We all look forward to the end-of-year Christmas party. Especially if it’s been a great year with smashed targets. But, as fun as these parties are, they’re a total minefield of potential embarrassments that can evaporate your integrity faster than you can say “flaming Sambuca”. Here are our top tips to make sure that doesn’t happen to you this year.

Take a Pre-party Poop…

Okay, let’s get the nasty stuff out of the way first. It’s important you empty your bowels before attending the party. Think that sounds weird? Well, tell that to the unfortunate person who stunk out the toilet last year, embarrassed themselves and ruined their chances of the office romance they were hoping for when they left that terrible smell behind them. If this was you, you could look forward to a year of teasing, further public humiliation and never living it down in general.

Eat Before You Arrive

There are a few reasons to do this one. Firstly, there will be enthusiastic consumption of alcohol. You need to line your stomach or you’ll be telling your boss how much you just love what he did with his office redecoration before the canapés are finished. More importantly though, finger food is a messy business. Nothing ruins a networking opportunity like spitting cracker crumbs in the face of your prospect. Nothing devastates your chances of a pay raise by greeting the boss’ wife with a face smothered in barbecue chicken sauce. Get a decent meal before you go.

Do NOT Dance (Unless you actually can)

When drink flows freely, people start becoming… overconfident in their dancing abilities. Inevitably, this is the miscalculation they regret most the day after. Make sure you’re not that person. Before you go out, commit to not dancing under any circumstances unless you actually can. We mean, genuinely can. That means no self-proclaimed experts. One friend of mine was keen on dancing at the Christmas party so he spent 9 months practicing the moves for Saturday Night Fever. He put the time in, nailed it and reaped the benefits. Unless you’re good, avoid the dance floor like a recently-devastated toilet cubicle.

Don’t Talk about Yourself

Everyone loves to talk about themselves. And, this is precisely why you shouldn’t. If you have your eye on a networking opportunity, get them talking about themselves. When that happens, make sure you listen intently when they answer your questions. By the end of the conversation, they’ll think you’re a great guy, and all you did was give them the space and the opportunity to express themselves, listening like you should. You’ll make a friend that could later turn into a mutually beneficial business relationship.

Keep it Strictly Business

These kinds of environments often have a strong resemblance to those where we socialize with friends. This deep-seated association to letting our guard down can be problematic to your B2B networking ambitions. Before you go, commit to keeping conversations strictly business. Sure, allow a pinch of personal matters into them. But, get too cozy, and you’ll end up saying or doing something you might regret later. If other people want to get personal, that’s fine. Be an attentive listener. But remember, you’re a sales professional and this is a business opportunity, not a social jolly. 

End-of-year Christmas parties can be a fun and festive time, but they also come with potential pitfalls that can harm your integrity and professional image. To navigate the party successfully, follow these tips. Start by taking care of personal needs beforehand, including ensuring you’re comfortable by emptying your bowels. It may sound trivial, but it can save you from embarrassing situations. Eat before the party to line your stomach and prevent messy mishaps with finger foods. Avoid dancing unless you genuinely have the skills to impress, as regrettable moves can haunt you later. Instead of talking about yourself, focus on getting others to talk about themselves, actively listening and building connections. Lastly, maintain a strictly business mindset and resist the temptation to divulge personal information or engage in unprofessional behavior. By following these guidelines, you can enjoy the festivities while preserving your integrity and professional reputation. 

Reflect on the past, analyze distractions, and develop specific strategies. Master the art of follow-up to maximize earnings and uncover new market opportunities. Set goals early and align them with your insights. Approach the new year with determination and clarity to achieve your best sales performance.