The Company Holiday Party: Do's and Don'ts

Holiday parties are a reality if you work for a business or other organization whether it is small, medium or large. Some people love them. Many people hate them. Either way, here is a list of “do’s” and “don’ts” for your review before you attend your upcoming holiday function.

Do:

• Attend your holiday event unless you are in the hospital or away on business
• Wear something appropriate to the invitation. When in doubt, dress-up but do not over dress. Santa suits, Santa ties and holiday sweaters have been overdone through the years and are considered in poor taste.
• Drink ginger ale, tonic, diet Coke or club soda.
• Make a point to speak with your boss and her boss plus as many of their peers as possible. Always introduce yourself and say where you work and what department you are in. This is important.
• Arrive early – most people will still be sober.
• Eat food at the event unless you plan to have a full meal before.
• Bring your spouse or significant other if that is allowed. It will give you someone to talk to after you have talked to the important people.
• Work the room. Do not just stand by the bar, the food table or in the corner.
• Bring business cards. Even if you all work for the same company.
• Look your best. This is not a good time to show off your counterculture other self.
• View this as a “career opportunity” like a big meeting or a business trip.

Don’t:

• Over or under dress
• Bring a first date. Only bring someone you are serious about - like your spouse or significant other.
• Show up half way through the function, especially after attending another event.
• Make-up for your 6 month diet by eating everything in sight.
• Hang-out with the people on your staff or the people who have cubicles near you. This is not middle school.
• Stick the celery or straws up your nose to get some laughs.
• Dance unless you know how. If you do not know what this means, then play it safe – DON’T DANCE.
• Try to break your college drinking record.
• Throw-up on your boss or her spouse.
• Make the moves on any member of the opposite (or same) sex who works for your company while at the function. This applies to co-workers’ spouses and dates too.
• Stand on your chair, table, the bar or anything other than the floor
• Wear any part of the holiday decorations
• Talk about your religion
• Talk about office politics – you never know who is standing next to you or behind you.
• Be one of the last to leave.
• Do anything that you would not want to see in your next performance appraisal or on the front page of the newspaper.

While nearly everyone complains about holiday parties, they endure year after years, in business good times and in bad. Make the best out of the opportunity.

George F. Franks, III is the founder and President of Franks Consulting Group, a Bethesda, Maryland management consulting and leadership coaching practice. He is a member of the Institute of Management Consultants (USA) and the International Coach Federation. His web site is:

http://franksconsultinggroup.com

Books to Add to Your Shopping List

Whether you are shopping for your boss, colleagues, family members for yourself, books always make a wonderful present. For those in fields related to business, leadership, consulting or coaching, the issue of which books is more problematic.

The following books have served this author, business executive, consultant and leadership coach well.

“Winning”
By Jack Welch with Suzy Welch
Whether you love or hate his management style, there are nuggets that anyone can take away from this book and apply daily.

“Tough Choice: A Memoir”
By Carly Fiorina
A well written book about an amazing business leader, who rose through the ranks at AT&T, helped created Lucent Technologies and led Hewlett-Parkard. As a side note, one of my more brilliant career moves was to turn down a job offer to work on her staff at Lucent.

“Patton on Leadership”
By Alan Axelrod
While you should read a biography of General George S. Patton is you want the history, this book serves as an excellent resource for leaders at all levels and in all fields.

“Blink”
By Malcolm Gladwell
An argument for the effectiveness of snap judgment from the author of “The Tipping Point”.

“The Portable MBA”
Bruner, Eaker, Freeman, Spekman and Teisberg (The Darden School, University of Virginia)
While there are many MBA summary resources for day-to-day reference, this slim volume has served my well and is easy to use.

“Making a Living without a Job: Winning Ways for Creating Work That You Love”
By Barbara J. Winter
The title says it all. Highly recommended.

“Now, Discover Your Strengths”
By Marcus Buckingham and Donald O. Clifton, Ph. D.
A tool for “develop(ing) your talents and strength – and those of the people you manage”.
Buy it. Try it.

“Good to Great”
By Jim Collins
A classic. You will read it again and again. Just on of the best books on business – and more – written in years.

“Leadership Secrets of the Rogue Warrior: A Commando’s Guide to Success”
By Richard Marcinko
Everybody talks about U.S. Navy SEALS. Learn how to be a more effective leader from one of the greatest former SEALs.

“The McKinsey Way”
By Ethan M. Rasiel
“McKinsey, McKinsey, McKinsey”. Stop complaining about them and start learning from them.

“Napoleon: How to Make War”
By Ediciones La Calavera
He conquered a large chunk of the world. Learn the principles that Napoleon lived by on a day-to-day basis.

“One Christmas in Washington: The Secret Meeting Between Roosevelt and Churchill that Changed the World”
By David Bercuson and Holger Herwig
Power leadership at the highest levels with the greatest stakes. A fascinating book.

“Live Rich: Everything You Need to do to Be Your Own Boss, Whoever You Work For”
By Stephen M. Pollan and Mark Levine
As the title states, a resource about how to work for yourself – regardless of where you work.

George F. Franks, III is the founder and President of Franks Consulting Group, a Bethesda, Maryland management consulting and leadership coaching practice. He is a member of the Institute of Management Consultants (USA) and the International Coach Federation. His web site is:

http://franksconsultinggroup.com