5 Ways to Benefit from the Holiday Party at Work

It’s that time of year again and you’ve just been invited to your company’s holiday party. Before you hit that RSVP button develop a game plan for the event.

The party might seem to simply be a chance to unwind and relax with colleagues, but it can also be an opportunity to add some value to your career and make some headway at your job.

Go into your work party with few objectives such as the following:

Break out of your clique. As tempting as it can be to hang out with those you know, your closest colleagues, take a risk and get to know others in your company. It’s beneficial to know individuals in other departments or area and you never know when that new contact can come in handy. Also make an effort to interact with a boss, manager, or executive you don’t know well. This introduction can lead to a promotion or job move later.

Limit the cocktails. If you drink, set a limit. Don’t be the drunk one at the holiday party who everyone talks about later. Not only will you have earned a reputation you don’t want, and that can hinder future advancement, but the alcohol might induce you to say some things you might later regret. Stay sober and clear-headed and you just might have the types of conversations that demonstrate your competence and enthusiasm for your work.

Be a team player. If your company party involves games or other group activities be sure to participate and join in on the fun. Staying on the sidelines and avoiding the action can lead others to think you approach your work in a similar way and are not a team player or a leader. And as mentioned above, participate in the activity with some colleagues you’re unfamiliar with.

Get personal. Avoid talking about work at the holiday work party. Don’t talk shop. Get to know your colleagues by asking about their children, their hobbies, or their holiday plans. And be a good listener. Remember what you’ve heard and learned about your co-workers.

Go forth. Show up. Don’t blow off the party and dismiss it as unnecessary to your work or career. Others do notice who attends and it can send a message to your management that you are not fully engaged with your work or the company and that is not a message helpful to your career. So, put on that funky Christmas sweater and go have some fun.

How to Stay Focused at Work During the Holidays

 © Andrii Klemenchenko | Dreamstime.com

This is the time of the year when our attention turns to family, gifts, food, celebrations, and time away from the office. But if you’re like most, you still have a job to do over the coming weeks. 

It can be tempting to spend valuable work time shopping for the final gift you need to buy for your cousin, and it’s easy to find distractions that prevent us from giving our full attention to the job. 

Implement these steps to help you stay focused on the task at hand. 

Put away the phone. When you get to work put your mobile phone away and turn off notifications. Lock it in a drawer if you can. This will prevent you from checking your personal email, scrolling through Facebook, and making personal phone calls throughout the day. 

Don’t sign up with your work email. You likely enjoy getting deals and so you’ve probably signed up to be emailed coupons and special offers from many of your favorite brands and retailers. This can be a big distraction if you have these sent to your work email address, especially with the increased number of messages sent around the holidays. Use your personal email and review them on your own time and unsubscribe from any of these emails that are coming to your work email address. 

Restrict access to shopping and news sites. If you spend time on a computer at work be sure to avoid sites you find particularly distracting. You might want to consider an app that prevents you from loading sites such as Amazon, Facebook, or CNN from your work computer, particularly if it is difficult for you to manage this on your own. 

Refocus at lunch. You finally have a few minutes in your day to relax and take a break. Feel free to reward a focused morning with some personal time but also use your lunch time to refocus and prioritize the remainder of your day. This can be an important time to reset the goals you have for the day and evaluate your progress. 

Reward your focus. Over the holidays be sure not to overwork and miss out on the fun. The holidays are a great time to reconnect with others and it’s important to reduce stress levels by attending the company’s holiday party and other opportunities to celebrate with your colleagues. 

By taking a few actions to stay focused over the holidays you can enjoy work and experience both the holiday work time and vacation time with reduced stress.

5 Ways to Cultivate Your Network Over the Holidays

The end of the year is approaching and you likely have a lot to do before taking some time off over the holidays. Without adding to your stress here are 5 ways to cultivate and enhance your network over the next few weeks.

1. Attend that holiday party. Yes, sometimes the company party seems like a waste of time and you're tempted to skip it or make a brief appearance. Resist that temptation. The company party is a good opportunity to develop deeper relationships with others in your company as you likely will have a chance to talk about more than just work. Going beyond the superficial discussion of projects can enhance the relationships with those you work with and provide new career opportunities in the future. And, at the holiday party, you just might get some time to talk with the company president or CEO.

2. Send a card to your top 5 business associates. If your company uses freelancers or vendors for any part of the business be sure to send a card of thanks to the most important ones you work with. Personalize the card and use it as an opportunity to strengthen the relationship you have. You never know, you just might want to contact one of these vendors or freelancers for a job in the future.

3. Smile and bring some joy to your coworkers. Build on your relationships with coworkers by having a positive attitude over the holiday. By smiling and being positive you can help to reduce the stress your colleagues might be experiencing. Some holiday cookies might even help too!

4. Send an email of thanks to your colleagues. Think about some of your colleagues and co-workers and consider those who have helped you in some way over the past year. It's unlikely you're a lone ranger so you probably depend on support from many others in your company. Prepare a brief email of thanks for some of these partners and you'll likely make their day and strengthen your relationship with them.

5. Send a note of good wishes to new contacts. Have you attended a conference or networking event during this past year? Perhaps you've started doing business with another company or vendor. If so, take a few minutes to send a note of reintroduction, extending well wishes for a happy holiday and new year.

If you spend a few hours implementing some of the ideas above over the next few weeks you'll likely strengthen your network and deepen your friendships, helping you enjoy your job and career even more.

5 Ways to Be More Social at Work (and, yes, you should be)

For some people it can be difficult to be social at work. You just want to go in, get your work done, and get home to your life outside of work.

However, being social at your place of employment can provide important benefits to your current job, such as opportunities for advancement or taking on a new project. It can also benefit you in the future when former coworkers have moved on to new jobs and you are unemployed and looking for
work.

With all that in mind, here are 5 ways to be more social at work:

1. Don't eat lunch alone. Be sure to go to the company cafe (if one exists) or join groups of colleagues heading out for lunch or a quick coffee. A great resource is Keith Ferrazzi's book Never Eat Alone.

2. Join your companies social media network. Many companies now offer social media sites enabling colleagues to communicate more effectively. Even if your company does not have a platform like this it's likely they are on Facebook or Twitter. You can join the conversation online and stay engaged with colleagues outside of work hours.

3. Join a committee. If your place of employment uses volunteer committees to get things done, such as organizing recycling or planning the holiday party (see below) consider joining one and getting to know colleagues you might not otherwise interact with on a regular basis.

4. Attend company events, holiday party, retirement party, etc. In December be sure to attend the holiday party and go to the company picnic in the summer. You'll often find higher level managers or executives feeling more relaxed and getting to know team members they haven't engaged yet. Use this as an opportunity to get to know others in your company.

5. Be proactive. Don't wait for others. Invite colleagues to grab a coffee or go to a concert on the weekend. It is through frequent and regular interactions with your coworkers that you will develop healthy and beneficial working relationships and, yes, even friendships.

You do need others to succeed in your career and in life. Take some of the steps noted above to develop effective relationships with those you work with.

High 5 Weekly Career Transitions Roundup: Networking Tips and How to Start a New Job Right

This is our weekly roundup of some of the best career-related articles, interviews, blogs, etc., we've read during the week. We share them so you have some great resources to prepare you for the coming week. Enjoy!

© Bellemedia | Stock Free Images & Dreamstime Stock Photos

• 6 Holiday Networking Tips: "Be curious, and show an interest in others ... ask interesting questions that demonstrate you know something but want to know more."


• 10 Warning Signs You Need a Career Change: "If you lose sleep over the thought of going to work in the morning, it may be time to pack up with the little shred of sanity you have left."


• 3 Tips to Hit the Ground Running at Your New Job: "Your company would not have hired you if you were not exceptional. So be true to who you are, be comfortable being who you are, and be comfortable letting your voice be heard."


• What to do (and not do) at the Office Holiday Party: "Introduce yourself to key players within the corporation and make a good impression by maintaining eye contact, shaking hands and remembering names."


• What to Do When Your Boss Doesn't Like You: "No matter what the situation or the cause of the issue, get stuff done, share the credit, and ask how else you can help—those are tried-and-true strategies for building a solid relationship with your boss."