How The Christmas Party Affects Your Career Prospects
Editor’s Note: There are many benefits to creating a social atmosphere at your work place, such as setting a friendlier tone, getting to know each other, and finding out inside information from drunk co-workers. Andrew Rondeau writes about his experience at this years mid-year Christmas Party.
Last night we had our office Christmas party.
Now that’s a strange time to have a Christmas party, I hear you saying.
Well yes, I agree but it doesn’t matter does it?
We all enjoyed ourselves. It was unique. I think more Christmas parties should be held mid-year. It breaks up the years work.
But do you know what the real role of the Christmas party is?
Fun?
Having a great time?
Letting you hair down and making a fool of yourself?
Maybe even a bit of flirting.
Well, yes - all of that but…
…let me explain the real role of the Christmas party.
The Christmas party is an important part of the 360 degree feedback process for managers and staff.
Normally the formal feedback process is in the shape of an appraisal or performance review and usually takes place in December each year, but can sometimes happen in January or even February. You know the sort of thing. Fifty-seven minutes chat about how you are going to improve and three minutes on what you have achieved.
It is then typed-up and shoved in a draw somewhere, only to see daylight again, in a years time.
But informally, during the Christmas party everyone in the department learns something. Often this is something about another member of the team. It could be a personal passion or pastime. This is useful to help team building.
In some cases, long-term or short-term relationships are enriched.
The agenda for these events is structured to allow a progression from initial fairly formal interchange:
“It’s funny how I’ve never spoken to you before… when we sit just three desks apart”
or
“I went to that school, as well”
through increasingly informal feedback:
“What you need to know is…”
or
“See him, over there, you know what he does…”
to an open and honest exchange of views and collaborative problem solving:
“You are sho unreashonable…Your problem ish you’re outoftouchwith whatsh happening in the front line…”
(that is my impression via typing of someone who has had too much to drink and is slurring).
For a senior manager the party is also a useful opportunity to catch up on gossip.
Often this gives managers access to information that has been widely known by everyone else for months (”Are they?!” or “Really, I didn’t know”).
A side effect of the party is that the senior managers can unwittingly create opportunities for further gossip.
Some parties have a theme.
This is a facilitation tool to allow the normally shy and retiring office worker to reveal suppressed personality traits.
Last night our theme was “pink”.
I wore a simple pink shirt.
Colin, the IT techie dyed his hair pink.
Just to let you know Colin doesn’t normally speak to anyone. Some would say that is good. Colin sits in the corner and gets on with his work. He doesn’t say ‘hello’ in the morning or ‘good-bye’ when he leaves. He gets his own drinks from the vending machine and always says “no” when someone else goes.
One shortcoming of the Christmas party process is that much of the useful information gathered can decay rapidly and only the most embarrassing details can be recalled by the following morning…
…Fortunately some people take photographs to help preserve the corporate memory.
Unfortunately I didn’t have a camera.
So, next time you attend your Christmas party ensure you know what you are saying and to whom!
Otherwise it may end up affecting your career and pay-rise.
Oh and if you are a Manager stay sober and don’t embarrass yourself.
About the author
Andrew Rondeau transformed himself from a $4 an-hour petrol-pump attendant to a highly successful Senior Manager earning $500k every year. Discover How to Maximize Your Income and Minimize Your Effort by receiving Andrew’s free e-Course and report: http://www.greatmanagement.org/
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Posted by Alex Shalman in Leadership | July 2, 2008 | Digg | Del.icio.us | Stumble | Print | 1 comment
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Great article! Annual Company Parties are the place to be to “humanize” oneself. Usually, most people have a professional outward front that is proper to have in a working environment. Granted, many working environments are now geared toward the casual atmosphere, but that doesn’t matter, work is work and putting on a professional appearance is important. Attending a Christmas Party or Annual Company Party is important for others to see you in a different, more relaxed light. The author, Andrew Rondeau, made an excellent point about relationships being enriched at these parties. What a great branding tool for oneself to be able to speak with their peers, managers, directors or owners about what goals they are trying to achieve or recently accomplished, both personally and professionally. When people connect, opportunity rises and synergy is created, where it may not have been discovered otherwise.