Leadership: Naughty or Nice at Holiday Parties
I have just come back from a holiday event with colleagues. I told them an entertaining story of a colleague that fell from grace because of a staff party and figured I would write this little note as a reminder to you. While work-related social functions are perfect for leaders to engage with your staff, they can also make for business or career disasters.
This is the time of year when many companies are hosting casual holiday luncheons or splurging and enjoying dressing up, having a meal catered in a fancy local hall and choosing to partake in a few adult beverages. As we come to the end of another year of business we start to think about unwinding and enjoying a break with our staff, customers, friends and family. I invite you to remember that people are still watching. This is a time to unwind, even unwrap but definitely not to unravel.
In the case of my colleague, there was definitely too much drinking involved and the choices he made because he was impaired, immediately damaged the trust with his staff, his reputation with his customers and ultimately his career with that company.
Caron Treatment Centers, a non-profit provider of drug and alcohol addiction treatment in the US, released a survey in October stating that 52% of office holiday party attendees have witnessed some sort of inappropriate behaviour due to too much alcohol consumption. 30% of the survey respondents said they’ve witnessed someone flirt with a co-worker or supervisor at a holiday office party. Of the 1,034 survey respondents, 26% said a colleague or supervisor had shared personal or inappropriate details about themselves at a work-related social outing.
Today, smartphone cameras can easily capture inappropriate behaviour in real time and post it online. With social media so widespread now, many who attend office holiday parties are putting the technology to good use. More than half of the respondents to the Caron survey said they’ve seen professional repercussions for co-workers when such information became public through social networks.
It’s OK to party and drink responsibly as a leader. Remember to maintain good judgement, and show your team why they look up to you.
What you do speaks so loud, I cannot hear what you say.
Unwind over the holidays and find some balance, unwrap your presents and enjoy your family but don’t unravel your leadership.
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