As leading executive placement consultants in Sacramento, CA, Pacific ExecSearch knows that holiday work parties can be an ideal time for you to express your gratitude to your team for all their hard work – or they can be a disaster waiting to happen. As a company leader, it is your job to set the tone for the event to ensure it’s not the latter. To help you, here are five tips to consider:

#1. Make expectations clear.

Make employees aware of the type of behavior that is expected at the holiday party. It’s a good idea to include a reminder that sexual harassment and other forms of harassment will not be tolerated. You want employees to have fun, but you also must be clear about what will not be tolerated.

#2. Remember, it’s a business event.

No matter how festive the occasion, the holiday party is still about business. Don’t risk damaging your professional reputation by committing a blunder at the event. A good rule of thumb? If you wouldn’t do something at the office, don’t do it at the office holiday party.

#3. Interact with those you don’t usually work with.

The holiday party is a great time to get to know your team better, as well as interact with and forge relationships with those you don’t work with on a daily basis. So don’t remain talking with one group all night. Spend a few minutes connecting with your core team, thanking them for their contributions, and then move onto other company players.

Also, remember that not everyone celebrates the same holiday. If you’re not sure what a particular employee celebrates, then simply ask if they have any special plans for the month.

#4. Stay engaged.

A holiday party is a perfect time to get to know others on a more personal level. Stay engaged and don’t spend the evening on your phone, talking or texting. Put your people first.

#5. Keep drinking to a minimum.

One of the quickest ways to lose credibility is to drink too much at the holiday party. If you choose to drink, do so minimally – one or two drinks.

#6. Avoid the after party.

Don’t go to an after party with your employees. Hanging out beyond the actual holiday party itself with those you supervise will undermine your authority in the workplace. If you are invited to an after party, politely decline.

The New Year is just around the corner. Do you have the right leaders in place at your company? If you don’t – and you need helping hiring executive talent – call Pacific ExecSearch. As leading executive placement consultants in Sacramento, CA, our team of recruiters has extensive experience in sourcing, evaluating and helping companies hire mission critical professionals for top positions.

To learn more about how we can help your organization, please contact us today.