There's nothing like the sound of "Jingle Bells" over the company P.A. system to bring out the naughty and nice around the water cooler. After hours the stakes go up, especially at that exercise in forced frivolity known as the "company Christmas party." If you would like to keep that seasonal green in the bank and the red off your face, follow these timely pointers.

Dress for success ... not excess. In the business world, the rule is "dress for the job you'd like to have, not the job you have." This doesn't change just because it's after-hours. A little glitter and glam is fine, but leave the up-to-here hemlines and down-to-here necklines in the closet alongside the six-inch spikes and clown makeup.

Ho-ho-hold the line on the wine. Eat some lean protein and a few complex carbohydrates to take the edge off your hunger and absorb the modest doses of alcohol you plan to consume. If you want to let loose, take a few friends home for an after-party.

Don't let the boss catch you with your tinsel down. Careers have been destroyed with a single ill-conceived frolic under the mistletoe. This is no time to goose your secret crush or have a few belts and tell your least-favorite teammate exactly what you think of him. Eyes and ears are everywhere, and executives are like elephants: they have long memories. Be discrete.

Welcome the opportunities to shine. If you're good at organizing, decorating, or writing creative jingles, offer to lend a hand with the festivities. If you've got a decent voice, go ahead and belt out a tune on the karaoke machine ... but if even your shower stops up when you start singing, keep the fa-la-las to yourself.

Do go, and do have a good time. The corporate world is a microcosm of the rest of life: It's all about relationships. The most important part of making those connections is dressing up, showing up ... and not acting up.

Learn more about this author, Heidi Hess Saxton.
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