11 mistakes to avoid making at a company dinner

Alcohol, a la carte food and your bosses watching the situation. A very dangerous combination.

Christmas is approaching and with it the company dinners. You've worked hard all year and tonight can be a fun night.

A good dinner, a few laughs and on top of that you don't pay for it. What more do you want! Company dinners can be a kind of catharsis after a year stuck in the office, where you can spend a night out.where you can spend a night out with the people you share most hours of the day. More than with your partner...

How to behave at the company dinner

The company dinners are common in December, just before Christmas. Although some companies, especially those with temporary contract workforces (e.g. in the tourism sector), may organize them when the busy season is over and carry out a large reduction in staff until the following season. But regardless of the date, company dinners are not a night out with friends, but with your co-workers and your superiors..

Therefore, do not forget that the boss (or bosses and superiors) will be present at the company dinner and, therefore, it is important to take care of your reputation, your image and not to undermine your stay in the company. It goes without saying that in these events it is necessary to dress appropriately, according to the situation and the place and it is necessary to be punctual. But, in addition, if you do not want to make a bad impression away from the work environment, pay attention to the following tips, which will surely be useful for you not to leave the company dinner in a bad way:

1. Don't sit close to the boss

If you do not want to be in the eye of the hurricane throughout the evening, the best thing you can do is not to sit near the boss.. Unless you have a great relationship and want to sit together, avoid that area of the table.

You will probably want to enjoy the evening, so ideally you should sit somewhere else, with your colleagues, where you can be you and enjoy their company. Therefore, it is important that you arrive on time and don't end up sitting right next to your superior because the other seats are taken.

2. Don't criticize

Remember that company night is a night when you should put work-related issues aside. The best thing to do is to enjoy this pleasant moment and have a good time with your colleagues.. 

But the most important thing, and this should not be forgotten, is to avoid these situations to criticize your colleagues or bosses. Watch your words, do not make the mistake of being a loudmouth.

3. Don't be the boss's suck-up

If the advice in point one is not to sit close to the boss, at this point, I remind you that it is important that you do not go to the other boss either. it is important that you don't go to the other extreme and be the boss's "ball" either.. 

Regardless of whether it bothers your superior or not, your colleagues will surely notice your attitude and this will not benefit you at all, because you can make enemies within the company.

4. Don't flirt with a colleague in front of everyone

We can all feel attraction for that colleague we like so much, and sometimes this feeling can be mutual. What you do in your private life is your own business.

However, if you let everyone know that there is more than just a working relationship between you, the whole office will soon find out. That's fine if you're both serious, but if it's a "fling," discretion is best.. Needless to say, if either of you has a partner, this can end badly.

5. Watch out for drinks (especially if you're working the next day).

People already take it for granted that tonight is a night to laugh and enjoy the wine and a few drinks.. In our culture, for many people, party nights are not understood without the consumption of alcohol. This habit is not exactly good, but it is a socially accepted reality, and no one will look down on you if you have a few drinks.

However, if you drink too much, you will look bad in front of your coworkers and your boss, and you may become the laughing stock of the office for the next few weeks.

6. Don't talk with your mouth full

This is a different night than a workday, but that doesn't mean we should lose our manners and indulge in bad manners. So, be polite and don't talk with your mouth full, be polite and don't talk with your mouth full..

7. Avoid sitting next to someone you don't get along with in the company.

As mentioned above, if possible, it is best to sit far away from the boss, but this is another place that can make you uncomfortable, another place that may make you uncomfortable at the table is sitting next to someone with whom you don't have a good relationship in the company.. If you don't want to have an unpleasant time, look for another place where you feel more comfortable.

8. Beware of social networks

New technologies and social networks are also present in these holidays. So, if you want to preserve your privacy, avoid selfies or photos that could compromise you.. I'm sure you will be grateful the next day.

9. Behave yourself at the table and at the party.

At the table and at the party you must maintain your composure and be respectful and polite.. It is easy to lose your temper or your manners when you have a few too many drinks. So, if you don't want your boss to have a bad image of you, behave like an adult.

10. Watch what you say

Alcohol can also disinhibit us and the informal situation we may find ourselves in at the company dinner can relax us. We must be careful with our words, not only in terms of criticism.. For example, when telling a colleague that you like him or her or when talking about compromising topics.

11. Don't even think of bringing your partner

Company dinners are generally for employees. If the other guests go alone and if you have not been told that it is allowed to attend with a partner, do not be the exception. Besides, you may end up isolated and talking to each other, you may end up isolated and talking about your personal life in a place that is not ideal for you..