Cherry Hill, NJ

Tuesday, December 01, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

CONTACT:  Joyce Hoff

856) 751-6141 (NJ)

www.pachter.com

5 Ways to Avoid Disaster at Your Office Holiday Party!



A young man got drunk at his holiday party, cursed out his boss and got fired on the spot. The next day he couldn't understand why his badge didn't work. He had gotten fired and had no recollection of it!

According to business etiquette expert Barbara Pachter, author of the book NewRules@Work: 79 Etiquette Tips, Tools, and Techniques to Get Ahead and Stay Ahead, "People say and do all sorts of inappropriate things at holiday parties. They forget that their behavior still matters even when they are out of the office."

Pachter recommends that you view the holiday party as you would any other business event. It is not the time to let it all hang out!

Here are Pachter's 5 guidelines for holiday success:

1. Attend and mingle. Attendance at the company holiday party isn't optional. Your absence will be noticed, and most likely, noted by your boss and other higher ups. Talk to people you know and don't know. The person that you meet at the party may ultimately be the person that will be interviewing you for your next job.

2. Dress appropriately. It may be a party, but it's still business. Nothing too short, too low, too tight or too anything.

3. Do not get drunk. To stay sober set a limit for yourself before you go to the party. It is much easier to limit your intake that way. Or, order a drink you don't like and sip it slowly all night. Remember it is really easy to lose control if you have had too much to drink.

4. Pay attention to your body language. Even if the party is dull, it is bad manners to let others

see how bored you are. Don't frown, slouch, cross arms or yawn.

5. Don't say anything negative about the party on your social media sites. This also means no

posting of any unflattering photos of people on Facebook or sending tweets about someone's

unbecoming behavior.

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Barbara Pachter is a speaker, coach and author of numerous business books, including The Power of Positive Confrontation ($15.95, paperback, Marlowe & Co.) and When the Little Things Count ($13.95, paperback, Marlowe & Co.).

She specializes in business etiquette and communication. Her client list features major organizations worldwide, including Microsoft, Cisco, Pfizer, Chrysler, and Genentech.

For a review copy of NewRules@Work: 79 Etiquette Tips, Tools, and Techniques to Get Ahead and Stay Ahead, contact: Rosanne Romanello, 212-366-2323, or Rosanne.romanello@us.penguingroup.com

For a free copy of Pachter's communication e-newsletter, "Competitive Edge," your readers can call (856) 751-6141 (NJ) or go to www.pachter.com.

Barbara Pachter

President

Pachter and Associates

Cherry Hill, NJ

856-751-6141

First Url: Barbara Pachter's website

Second Url: Barbara Pachter's Blog