GET INTO THE SPIRIT - WITHOUT THE HANGOVER

The party season brings an opportunity to build contacts, but make sure you act professionally, warns Barbara McCarthy

Spirits are high and the wine is flowing. The Christmas party season is here again. Although it may seem like a good time to let down your barriers, there can be far-reaching consequences for those who lose control. The office Christmas party is an opportunity to mingle and make new contacts, but it can also be a place where reputations are made or broken. If you emerge from the holiday season as a together, fun person, your year can start on a high note. If you don't, you may end up regretting it all year - though you would not be alone.

More than 40% of people have done something embarrassing at their office Christmas party, according to a survey by RecruitIreland.com. This is hardly surprising given that 74% said they had consumed too much alcohol. Not all of those uncomfortable displays involved dancing on tabletops however: 22% admitted to telling their boss what they thought of him of her while 5.5% went so far as to resign. Many people find themselves hiding behind the filing cabinets the next day with their reputation in tatters.

The problem is that large quantities of alcohol can loosen tongues and lead some staff to give voice to grievances, says Rowan Manahan, the MD of career management firm Fortify Services. "In vino veritas - in wine, there is truth," he said. "If you have any underlying issues that you would rather not have aired in public, it might be better to say that you have to drive and stick to orange juice."

Maintaining a professional demeanour is worth it, he says, as misconduct in a social setting can resonate for a long time. "End-of-year bonuses may have been distributed or promotions handed down before the event. Win or lose, these can be emotional moments, but try and keep your emotions to yourself," he said. "This is one night of the year when you really need to keep your cool."

Manahan warns that the office party is not the time to jockey for position either. "If you are thinking of using this as an opportunity to suck up, beware; it will be noticed," he said. "It's not really a time to talk shop."

Only a small proportion of people report truly enjoying the office night out, he says. "For many, it is a fear-inducing event that can be made easier only by the consumption of alcohol. There are 364 other nights a year when you can go out and be yourself. It's better to go unnoticed than to be the centre of (unwanted) attention."

The bigget mistake people make is thinking that the buffet means it's "all-you-can-eat" time or that an open bar means it's a chance to get drunk, says Dr Randall Hansen, the president of Quintessential Careers, a job search consultancy, and associate professor of marketing at Stetson University in Florida.

"A lot of workers mistake the holiday party for a social gathering, when it is really another business function," he said. "Employees must stay professional at all times. You do not want to be the person everyone is talking about the next day and for days to follow." Hansen says it it important to show up. "Stay long enough to be seen and to thank all those responsible," he said. "You never want to stay the whole time, never want to be the last person to leave ... nor do you want to be the first to arrive."

It's important for senior management to come off as regular people, says Hansen. "Let people in the organisation see you as a person rather than a title. Don't ask or demand any special services. Don't cut in line or feel that your position deserves any more special treatment than anyone else at the party." Rather than huddling in a corner with other senior managers, mingle and listen to what other employees are saying. This is an opportunity to find out wht is happening in the trenches.

Those who work for multi-national or foreign companies should be aware that their Christmas parties may be different from the standard Irish affair, says Rory Brennan, a director of The People Group. "Politics often play a bigger role in foreign companies than they do in Irish firms," he said. "Sometimes a foreign contingent will be over for the Christmas party, so it is important to watch what you say. Try and find out who is who in order to avoid any embarrassment."

New employees should play it extra safe because they are still being judged. "Use the office party as a chance to geet to know as many co-workers and bosses on a personal level as possible." he said. "Office parties are great places to network and showcase your strengths and importance to the organisation - as long as this is done in moderation."

Bring a date only if guests are invited. If you do, don't bore them to death with shop talk, says Lesley Carlin, the co-author of More Things You Need to Be Told. "Nobody wants to come to a party to hear the details of your work problems. Change the subject, or ask other people what they do for a living."

Be friendly with all members of staff, but don't try too hard to fit in with the others. In the TV comedy The Office, David Brent ends up doing a break-dancing routine in front of his staff at an office function and the employees simply cringe with embarrassment for him.

"Once the gloss has come off, you won't be able to put it back on again," said Jenny Ungless, the MD of City Life Coaching in Britain. "You don't want to spend years gaining respect and loyalty only to lose it in a second. Get the balance right, show your human side, but maintain standards. Be friendly and approachable and make sure you're never too close to any member of the opposite sex."

While 42% confessed to RecruitIreland's interviewers that they had had a romantic interlude with a colleague, such displays can do serious damage to a promising career. Hilka Klinkenberg, the founder of Etiquette International and author of At Ease Professionally, says a Christmas function is a time to build loyalty and rapport with members of your team. "It's an opportunity for a chairman to talk to somebody who is lower down in the totem pole," she said. "If you make a good impression, you will be remembered when you want to work your way up."

Office parties offer one of the few opportunities to meet and mingle with people from work. "Do your homework. Know who the team players are. Don't just talk to the person you sit next to; talk to as many people as you can. It's a business opportunity without actually talking shop."

When the party is over, thank the organisers, even if it was not to your taste, and never drive home when you have had a few too many.

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