Celebration of corporate life

2024 Author: James Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 14:00

Our country is rapidly developing and adopting from the West not only advanced technologies, but also a culture of behavior. We are no longer surprised by the fact that the working image needs to be thoroughly thought out, and the phrase "be like at home" in relation to the office is not applicable at all. That is why corporate holidays lead us into a state of stupor, despite the fact that a priori they should only bring joy and fun. Any fun has its own hour, but how to spend this "hour" wisely?

Study, study and study again

Having survived the most difficult Soviet period, our country is now just learning the basics of a vacation free from any political color. Office managers learn to make events truly fun and interesting, while the rest of the employees learn to relax the way they are able to do it “outside of work”. However, even here there are certain limitations, some generally accepted framework.

First and foremost, one cannot refuse to attend a corporate event, which Cleo. Ru has already written about. Even if personal circumstances seem important to you, not all colleagues and managers will understand them. It is as a result of such refusals that the impression of employee disloyalty to the company, corporate values and management is created. You don't have to stay up late at the party. Just show respect for your colleagues, who have put a lot of effort into ensuring that you all have a common holiday, having attended at least the solemn part.

Dress code

Yes, yes, you should not relax: even on vacation in the company of colleagues there are rules for appearance. Of course, you should not dress for a holiday as strictly as in the office, but you still have to comply with some laws of the corporate genre. It is much easier if the party is themed, or the dress code is indicated in the invitation. In the first case, it is enough to turn on your imagination and dress in accordance with your ideas about cowboys or heroes of the third millennium. In the second - carefully study the invitation and choose the appropriate outfit. And remember: adherence to the dress code in the latter case is strictly required.

Subordination

Do not think that a corporate holiday is an opportunity to communicate with colleagues and management in an informal setting. In fact, your further career advancement may depend on how you open up on this “celebration of life”. Do not rush to throw yourself into the arms of your boss - do not forget that this daring cowboy with a huge lasso at the ready, despite his appearance, is your boss.

In particular, the observance of chain of command during the collection and departure of guests is considered extremely important. Being late for a corporate event is a huge mistake that you can never be forgiven. However, it is worth remembering that such holidays tend to start later than the time indicated in the invitation, and therefore you can safely count 15-30 minutes from this figure. Ordinary employees should be the first to appear at the party, then the management team.

Departure of guests takes place in the reverse order: first, the holiday leaves the management, and then, in order of seniority, the rest of the employees. Therefore, even if you are unbearably bored, try to keep yourself occupied while the bosses are milling around.

For example, you can try to communicate with this very bosses. Just, again, do not forget about the chain of command. Even in an informal setting, the boss remains your boss, and therefore you should not share your personal experiences with him or, even worse, flirt. If you behave incorrectly, then, firstly, you will instantly become the subject of colleagues' gossip, and secondly, you will alert the boss himself.

Of course, a difficult question: how to behave if the boss himself shows an undisguised interest in you? On the one hand, “you cannot contradict the authorities”. On the other - “Plato is my friend, but the truth is dearer”. By showing signs of attention in public, the boss provokes you. Try to be confident and calm - at least until you are alone in the room.

You left me half of you

And here's another puzzle for your mind: is it correct to take your soul mate with you to a corporate event? Russian specialists in organizing such events state that their clients rarely approve of the presence of employees' wives or husbands at parties. However, this is not a dogma, therefore, when planning to take a young man with you, just try to find out from your colleagues how accepted this is in your particular company.

Table etiquette rules directly depend on how the holiday is organized. All kinds of theme parties are held in the form of a non-binding buffet table. Its advantages: democracy, ease of communication, a minimum of officialdom. Employees who are not bound by the hierarchy of seating at the table are free in their choice of location and interesting interlocutors. The main rule of such an event is not to interfere with others. This also applies to a set of snacks and communication. After filling the plate, move away from the table to allow others to approach it. When communicating with a colleague, ask if you are distracting him from something important. In general, according to unspoken banquet etiquette, a conversation with one interlocutor should not last more than ten minutes.

Banquet

To drink or not to drink: is that the question?

This question is rather rhetorical. On the one hand, holding a glass of juice in your hands, you will surely look like a black sheep, a non-companion person. But by drinking too much, you risk not only your reputation, but, in some cases, your place.

However, no less often a corporate event takes place in the form of a banquet in a restaurant. Do not forget: the way you behave at the table characterizes you not only as a person, but also as an employee, shows how carefully you follow the details and capture the general tone and mood of what is happening. Surely you know the most elementary norms: sit down at the table only when an official invitation has sounded; do not order drinks until the others have sat down, do not start eating before everyone at the table has been served. But there are also special rules, neglect of which can lead to undesirable consequences.

According to international protocol, it is not customary to make toasts at receptions. However, Russian traditions have developed differently. The first toast is the prerogative of the head of the enterprise, the rest - of the heads of departments, senior employees and further in decreasing order. If you need to leave the table for a while, do it during a change of dishes, otherwise your completely ordinary action can be regarded as a manifestation of disrespect and disinterest in the conversation.

To smoke or not to smoke?

In many restaurants, smoking in the hall is prohibited in principle. You shouldn't be foaming at the mouth to prove to the waiter that if he doesn't bring you an ashtray right now, you will be hit. Better just go outside at the right moment. In addition, you are not the only one who has an addiction, and at some point, a company that wants to quench its nicotine thirst will probably "spill out". If it is not forbidden to smoke in this particular restaurant, all the same, first ask permission from the neighbors at the table: who knows, maybe one of them does not tolerate tobacco smoke.

Bringing all of the above to a common denominator, we can deduce the main rule of behavior at corporate events: behave in such a way that the next morning you simply will not be ashamed of yourself.