Last week, my colleague Phil Stott wrote an article titled” in which he raised some very valid risks that holiday parties present. And while I agree that work parties can present some potential problems—such as embarrassing yourself in front of your colleagues due to overconsumption of alcohol—they can also offer many benefits. Here are five reasons why you should attend your office party this year.
1. Raise Your Visibility with Management
Perhaps the greatest advantage of attending your holiday party is the opportunity to network with management and other higher-level employees, whom you might not see on a regular basis. As long as you’re comporting yourself professionally, then making yourself known to management and establishing a positive rapport with higher-ups can be great for your career. Having the CEO or VP of your department be able to pick your face out from the crowd can have major benefits—for example, they might think of you first when the next promotion cycle comes around. Just as networking is crucial when you’re trying to land a job, continuing to network in your current role can help accelerate your career growth at your company.