T’is the season to be jolly and I have just recovered from a memorable Highland Marketing Christmas party, so in the spirit of Christmas I thought I would share a few tips to ensure your party runs smoothly and has no negative impact on your career prospects come 2014!
Dressing up
Always adds an element of fun to the proceedings. Make sure that the management is on board and enters the spirit:
It’s fun to buy thoughtful or amusing presents for co-workers
If you’re going to buy an embarrassing or insulting present however, remember that secret Santa is only as secret as the person who drew up the list and once they’ve had three champagnes too many, there’s no telling who will find out…
Do have a laugh with your boss
This might take the form of a nice, normal conversation, or maybe even poking a bit of fun at them. They won’t mind – Christmas parties are the one time when they’ll wish they were one of the gang and that people weren’t forced to be nice to them even if they didn’t especially want to be:
Don’t hog the boss
You may be in the running for a promotion next year but cornering your boss for an hour to give them a summary of ALL the great work you’ve done this year, well it just isn’t the time or the place. It’s party time, not appraisal:
Don’t take pictures of your colleagues
They may resent you the following day, especially if you post them on Twitter or write a blog about it….
Do play party games
They are such fun! Although try and remember that there may be other people trying to enjoy their office Christmas party who may not want to join in with your game of (highly recommended) ‘Head’s Up’ on your iPhone:
Although it’s party time, remember to stay professional
I promise that you will feel very smug the following day…and you will be able to laugh about those who didn’t!
Don’t drink too much!
It’s not good for your health and you may feel very grumpy the next day.
Don’t be the last one standing when everyone else has had enough
You don’t want to be that person who’s trying to convince everyone to do just one more round of tequila shots when all they really want to do is go home and sleep.
And finally, do turn up to work the following morning!
So there you go, if you follow those tips, you can’t go too far wrong!
Merry Christmas to you all from the Highland Marketing team!
Myriam McLoughlin
“Really knowing and understanding your customer are fundamental to effective PR and communications. Getting to know each client’s people, culture and products is essential for a campaign which will make them stand out from the crowd, win positive media attention and persuade potential customers that this is a company they want to work with.”
A little about Myriam:
- French by birth and fully bilingual, Myriam is well-equipped to communicate fluently and easily with clients throughout the English and French-speaking worlds.
- Myriam has an impressive academic record, including a first degree in communications and PR, from Bordeaux University, and a second, in information and library studies, from Loughborough University.
- Before going into PR she ran a profitable business as a La Jolie Ronde franchisee, recruiting 50 pupils and teaching them French, both at school and privately.
- Peace and relaxation comes from walking her beloved dog, which she manages to fit in between acting as a taxi service for her three children.
Latest posts by Myriam McLoughlin (see all)
- Your NHS Needs You! - 17th July 2015
- NHS: Back to the future - 15th May 2015
- Good news is no news, and that’s bad news for NHS PR - 20th March 2015
- Healthcare technology marketing: How to go from B2B to B2C - 23rd January 2015
- Time to get emotional! - 21st November 2014
