Even if you're dreading your office holiday party, you still have to go. Here's your survival guide

pulse

November 29, 2018 6:21 PM

You don't have to stay for the entire office holiday, but you also shouldn't skip it. Here's your office party survival guide.

Keep conversations light and not about work.

holiday work party

There are plenty of reasons you might be dreading your holiday work party.

Maybe you're stressed by upcoming the holidays, and need every minute you can get outside of work to plan and shop. Or maybe you just flat-out don't like your coworkers.

Regardless, Karen Wickre, author of recently published "Taking the Work Out of Networking: An Introvert's Guide to Making Connections That Count," told Business Insider that you still have to go.

"It's more to get brownie points that you are a team player and you're in the mix," Wickre, who was previously an executive at Google and Twitter, told Business Insider. "If you never show up at company events, you lose brownie points."

Workplace expert Lynn Taylor agreed. Holiday parties are "major annual events — and there’s more obligation to participate," she told Business Insider.

Although you do need to go, you don't have to go for all that long.

The conversations at these events aren't likely to be substantial, so even if you attend the party for less than an hour or so, you're not missing out on an opportunity to pitch your big idea to the VP.

Here are Wickre's tips for a short and sweet appearance:

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