How to Survive Your Office Party

If you're with a company long enough, there will be more than one opportunity to have a drink and loosen up with your boss. These little get-togethers can make or break you depending on what is said and done. It's important to learn how to play well with others when you're on the sauce.

Pace Yourself

Never drink more than your boss! Pay attention to the others around you and how much they are drinking. They are probably watching you and waiting for someone to fall, trip, sing loudly, or make a scene. As long as someone else gets out of hand, you won't be the subject of their fodder come Monday morning.

Keep Your Secrets

It's really easy to spill your guts to a sympathetic ear while intoxicated. Don't be fooled! While telling your co-worker about the last time you got drunk you ended up in your car, naked, covered in cake batter and without keys, may be cathartic, it's probably something you will have wished you kept to yourself. You may think he/she's your best friend for those few hours, but the next few days will be awkward after that story, and you don't need the shame.

Play It Cool

There's nothing wrong with having a good time, but this night is not the night to show of your talents. After a few vodka tonics, it's not the time to steal your boss' attention for your rendition of Kerry Strug's Olympic gold metal winning floor routine. Nor is it the time to do your slurred impersonation of Marlin Brando. There will be plenty of those people at the party. Remaining calm, cool, and collected will spare you of embarrassment and make others respect you.

Mingle

It's never a good idea to huddle up with the same people all night. You don't want others to think you're snobby or unfriendly. You should always mingle especially with upper management. If the opportunity arises, allow your boss to introduce you to everyone. You always want the top brass to know your name and it could be your one chance to impress.

Cardinal Rule

If there is one piece of advice to take from this article, do not do anything inappropriate with a co-worker or even worse, your superior. Keep it in your pants for one night. Enjoy your drinks, the food and all the good stories you will laugh about for years. Stifle your primal, liquor inspired urges and have fun. Nothing good can come from experiencing drunken lust with someone you have to work with five days a week. If you work part time...go for it! Just kidding!

While you always want to try to be yourself, there are certain laws of etiquette you should learn for social business events. Most are simple manners, however, whenever there is alcohol involved, special attention needs to be paid to our inner demons. While your best friends know your affinity for strip poker, your bosses wife probably doesn't want to play and may be offended by the offer. As long as you're calm and lucid, it should be an excellent affair and your chance at building a nice reputation.