PARTY PROOF YOURSELF
The season of holiday and office parties, work drinks and corporate and family lunches is almost upon us, and the power of the festive period is such that even the most disciplined men find themselves seduced by fried finger foods, turkey buffets and free champagne. Memories of Dry July and the Spring gym offensive are long gone, networking and small talk reigns supreme and November-December becomes one big, bloated, riotous, tinsel-covered blur. For the most extroverted of people this time can be daunting, but for others the very thought of navigating late-night karaoke and office Christmas party dos-and-don’ts can be simply terrifying. In order to accommodate and thrive with such a demanding social calendar, I’ve compiled this survival guide to help you make it to the New Year looking (if not feeling) serene, strong and smugly superhuman:
1 NETWORK, DON’T SELL
Love it or hate it, networking has become an essential part of the silly season routine but the term still congers up images of slimy executives in ill-fitting suits handing out business cards like gold bullions. Despite this bad reputation, there are still few more effective ways of forging relationships than in-person meetings or events. Just remember, you are there to meet people — that is the entire purpose of the event. This is not the time to sell a product or service. If someone seems particularly interested, get his or her contact details and follow up the next day, but during party hours, curb your enthusiasm and avoid a sales pitch.
