Holiday Etiquette: 7 Easy Tips to Navigate The Holidays With Grace

So I ask you…What is it about the holidays and its social events that drives good and proper etiquette right out the door?

I know it’s the time of the year that you really are required to let your hair down.

But does that have to include chopping off your “business head”?

You see, as a small business person, you are constantly being judged.

Before you can earn their trust, your customers will be second guessing themselves as to if you’re the right person to handle their work.

Especially if the amount of work or the sum of money involved is substantial.

Therefore, if you display inappropriate behaviour or show that you do not understand etiquette in social situations, it could come back to bite you in the butt.

You might not realise it, but it could be the inexplicable reason you lose a contract or a job you thought you had locked down.

That’s why I’m giving you your Christmas gift good and early:

7 useful tips to help you display the best holiday etiquette as you socialise during the holidays.

1. Don’t crash an event

You know what I mean…turning up to an event without having been invited.

Yes…people do this.

Some of you believe that knowing the person is enough for you to show up at their party. In your own words: “no big thing!”

But it is “a big thing!” and the biggest thing is your lack of knowledge of good social etiquette.

Look, people plan their events – choosing their guests, carefully selecting the guest speaker, and above all, working with a budget.

Sp just imagine if 10 people decide to crash a party…

Another way you crash a party is going with someone who was invited and just invited you, without first getting permission to bring you.

Whatever form it takes, crashing an event over the holidays might just show up in your business life in the new year.  

 Respond to RSVPs

You receive a lovely invitation to a Christmas dinner from your MVC (most valued client).

You feel honoured as you admire the paper and the special font, while you reflect on the business possibilities.

Of course you’re going…but did you RSVP as required?

RSVP is originally French as in: “répondez s’il vous plaît” which literally means: “reply if you please” or “please reply”.

Even if you thought it meant – “Remember: Send Valuable Present” etiquette might just dictate that you do. 

It follows then, that you cannot just ignore the RSVP instruction on an invitation.

The exception is when the host indicates that RSVP means “Regrets Only”.

In this instance, you only reply if you’re not attending.

In all other cases, check to see if you were given a date by which to reply and do so by that date. Please!

3. Follow the dress codes

Depending on the formality (or informality these days!) of the occasion, when you attend events over the holidays, you might be required to follow a dress code.

What is the problem?

Many small business owners believe that a dress code restricts what they can wear to an event…and it does. Doh!

But it does not limit your creativity within these limitations. You can still rock you own style and stand out from the crowd.

However, what you should not do, is display poor professional etiquette, by ignoring the dress code.

This only establishes that “you ain’t ready yet!” and this could lead to you being overlooked for a critical contract.

You must understand, that knowing how to conduct yourself in a professional manner, at a social event is just another part of the business of being in business!

4. Do not get drunk

You are asking if I had to mention this? Well, yes.

There seems to be a popular belief that the freer the drinks the more you should consume. Especially over the holiday season.

But regardless of the price of your drinks, the alcohol impact is the same. And the effect on your body and your brain is the same.

However much you believe you can hold your liquor, too much alcohol could lead to drunkenness.

Drunkenness can lead to you making an ass of yourself. At the wrong time.

The problem is, you might not even remember how you behaved but the other guests will.

This warning applies equally to men and women.

I can’t pretend that I have not noticed the increase in the amount of alcohol women are drinking.

So, when you are invited to social events, sponsored by any of your business associates or your clients, enjoy the drinks but don’t get drunk.

5. Remember to introduce your partner

Men in particular, have this terrible habit of “forgetting” to introduce their wives or girlfriends.

I don’t know the reason for this and I’m not even guessing.

What I do know is that in business and social situations, it is one of the worst displays of poor etiquette yo can find.

When you don’t introduce your partners, it makes them, the hosts and the other guests most uncomfortable.

Your partner is not sure how to behave – friendly? or distant?

The host and the guests have similar problems.

When you do introduce your partners though, remember to do so correctly.

Proper etiquette and certainly good holiday etiquette dictates that you introduce your partner in this manner:

“Please meet Mary, my wife” as opposed to “Please meet my wife Mary.”

6. Do not introduce an inappropriate topic

 So you’ve had a few drinks. Maybe a few too many.

Either way, you find the courage to tell that off colour joke that worked so well at your last “man cave” event. Wuhloss!

It seems that even the loud silence after you are finished speaking did not even alert you to your predicament.

Neither did the fact that you were the only one laughing.

I can’t stress enough how important it is that you conduct yourself with decorum at these events.

Be guided by topics the people around you are discussing.

If you feel to introduce a new topic, just like in effective public speaking, analyse your audience.

7. Prepare staff attending events on your behalf 

So your Operations Manager gets invited to a holiday event because of her position in your business.

Or…you have 2 clashing events and you ask her to represent you at one. (You advise the host, of course!)

Whichever it is, your business is being represented at the event.

This means that the holiday etiquette tips I shared above are equally relevant to that staff member.

So walk your staff member through them.

Make sure that they understand that maintaining the reputation of your business is as important as enjoying themselves.

Oh! Be sure to stress that just because they are not there in their own right, they attendance is not a sales opportunity. So no pitching. 

Your next “holiday etiquette” step…

So there you have them…

7 easy holiday etiquette tips to help you navigate the holidays with grace.

If you knew them before, good for you!

If you didn’t, reflect on them, learn them if you have to.

Then be prepared to practice them when you go out over the holidays.

Therefore, if you remember nothing else, just remember that your behavior will be judged, even when you’re partying over the holidays.

So, as you party during this holiday season, be sure to display good business etiquette.

In this way, your merry making during the holidays cannot cost you money in the New Year.

Happy Holidays!