Eat, drink and be very tactful at the holiday party

For the past several years, I’ve been in charge of planning company holiday parties, which are a great way to celebrate the year’s successes and look forward to a fresh start in the new year. Unfortunately, holiday parties also create the potential for out-of-control employees and awkward situations. As you prepare to cut loose at your company holiday party, here are some tips to ensure you don’t win the “lampshade award” this year … or any year. Do: • Prepare for the long haul. Start drinking water first thing in the morning and continue all day. Increase your water intake at the party by drinking a glass between each alcoholic drink. • Know your body’s natural drinking limit — and consume one fewer drink than that. • If you need a break from drinking, order a club soda with lime. It looks like a cocktail and will spare you the barrage of questions from your co-workers about why you aren’t drinking. • Eat, preferably throughout the night. Whether you have a sit-down dinner or it’s buffet-style, keep snacking throughout the night. Your head, stomach and dignity will thank you in the morning. • Mingle. Make an effort to talk to people you don’t normally get to talk to at the office. Don’t: • Talk about business the whole time. This is the quickest way to be alone in the corner at the party. The holiday party should be a time to kick back, relax and celebrate, not create the goals and strategies for 2015. • Use the holiday party as an opportunity to air your grievances. An old co-worker of mine chose the holiday party as the time to ask me why I didn’t like him. I didn’t — and gave him an honest answer. After a few minutes of heated conversation, I suggested we meet the next morning at the office to discuss our differences. We did, and we worked through it. • Act too excited about the free drinks. You’re an adult. Don’t make it seem like you can’t afford your own drinks. • Be the last person standing or the first to leave. Holiday parties are a great time to socialize with co-workers and bond outside of the office. Don’t be the drunkest person in the room, but at the same time, you don’t want to be the first to call it a night. • Call in sick the next day. Under any circumstances. By following a few simple rules, you can be this year’s holiday party all-star. Take it easy on the egg nog.