Don=92t be THAT person = at Holiday=20 bash

December 5th, 2007, filed by Michael=20 Flaherty

Listen up young = Wall=20 Streeters! It=92s been a tough year, with the mortgage and credit mess, = and your=20 bonus may only be the size of a New York City municipal worker=92s = salary =97 but=20 don=92t let one night ruin your career.

You may want to take some advice recently emailed = to us=20 under the subject: =93Office Party =91Schmoozing=92 for Career = Success.=94 The email=20 leads with the point that =93strategic networking=94 at holiday office = parties can=20 boost a person=92s career (or end it, as it were). It features tips from = John=20 McKee, one of America=92s leading business = success=20 coaches and author of =93Career Wisdom - 101 Proven Strategies to Ensure = Workplace=20 Success.=94

How to schmooze without coming off as a = brown-noser? How to=20 chat up a head honcho and not appear like a rookie? Is dancing on a = table=20 appropriate? Fortunately, McKee has answers.

Here are some of his bullet-pointed tips (and = we=92re not=20 kidding) =97 and some of our questions/observations in italics. Please = feel free=20 to comment with your own.

Imbibe and socialize with = caution. =20 There is no quicker career killer than public displays of drunkenness at = a=20 business function. Don=92t embarrass yourself by dancing like a crazy = person or=20 like a predator at a club, get caught necking or act aggressive in any = way.=20 (Does doing the back-spin or worm qualify as =93crazy person=94=20 dancing)

Debrief your guest. The = person you=20 have chosen to accompany you to a business function, and how they = behave,=20 reflects directly on you - whether positively or negatively. (But = what if=20 you really like to party with this person? Won=92t bosses respect you = for bringing=20 someone who likes to have a good time?)

Maintain your visibility. The = location=20 where you are situated should be highly visible. Stand in a place = that is=20 approachable - not behind chairs or the kitchen door where there is high = traffic. (Standing by the bar all night is certainly a = recipe for=20 disaster).

The great can articulate. Being = able to=20 effectively communicate, off the cuff, what you do for an organization, = without=20 gloating or over-inflating, is critically important. (Is telling = your boss=20 that their spouse is =93hot=94 out of the question=20 then?)