Best of: How to survive the office Christmas party
Dec 10, 2024
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Join FT columnist Stephen Bush, who shares his wealth of experience navigating office Christmas parties, alongside comedian Viv Groskop, who offers a humorous take on the highs and lows of festive workplace gatherings. They tackle the art of avoiding embarrassing moments while discussing strategies to recover gracefully if things go awry. From drunken secret Santas to dancefloor mishaps, the conversation is packed with relatable anecdotes and practical tips to help you survive the seasonal chaos without derailing your career.
Adopting a neutral greeting like 'nice to see you' helps smooth interactions and avoids awkwardness at office parties.
To prevent regretful incidents, it's essential to eat beforehand and pace alcohol consumption during workplace celebrations.
Deep dives
Navigating Workplace Party Interactions
Engaging with colleagues at workplace parties can often lead to social faux pas, especially when people struggle to remember names or faces. Adopting a neutral greeting like 'nice to see you' can create a comfortable atmosphere and pave the way for further conversation. This approach helps prevent the awkwardness of acknowledging forgetfulness or mistakes, allowing interactions to flow more smoothly. Participants also discussed the benefits of shifting conversations away from work-related topics to more personal inquiries, such as holiday plans, to ease the pressure.
The Risks of Alcohol Consumption
Alcohol consumption at office parties can lead to regrettable incidents, particularly when mingling on an empty stomach. A story was shared about an individual's overindulgence leading to embarrassing moments that were later regarded with shame. To mitigate such risks, it is crucial to eat beforehand and, when necessary, to enlist a 'monitor' to help manage drinking. Preparation and pacing are key strategies to avoid reaching the point of intoxication where poor decisions are made.
The Importance of Context in Office Parties
Understanding the context of workplace parties is essential for appropriate behavior, particularly around potentially embarrassing actions such as dancing. Conversations highlighted that while certain gatherings encourage fun and dancing, others may not foster such an environment, which can lead to discomfort. Many attendees shared their feelings about the general pressure to network and connect at these events, although it was emphasized that such expectations are often unfounded. Balancing being sociable with maintaining a professional demeanor is crucial to navigating these situations successfully.
It's the work Christmas party season: you're out of the office, and the alcohol is flowing. How can you make sure you don't embarrass yourself (or derail your career)? And how can you bounce back if you do go wrong? Isabel Berwick speaks to FT columnist and veteran party-goer Stephen Bush, author and comedian Viv Groskop and party-shy FT columnist Emma Jacobs to find out. Warning: contains drunken secret Santas, dancefloor embarrassment and toe-curling apologies.
Presented by Isabel Berwick, produced by Mischa Frankl-Duval, mixed by Simon Panayi. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Cheryl Brumley is the FT’s head of audio.