Holiday Party Season Etiquette (December 2009-January 2010)
By Karen Litzinger, MA, LPC

With the holiday party season upon us, I want to offer a few reminders of reception etiquette that can be used now or in the future.

• Remember to RSVP whether attendance or regrets, ideally within a week to assist host in party planning.
• Greet the host upon arrival and thank them when leaving. Consider sending a handwritten thank you note.
• The focus should be on relationship building, not the food or business.
• Suggest a follow-up conversation for a more business-oriented discussion.
• Etiquette guidelines are to spend 8-10 minutes with any one person or conversation.
• Always keep your right hand free for a welcoming approach and dry handshake.

©2010, Litzinger Career Consulting. Permission granted to reprint this article so long as the text and by-line are not changed and reprinted intact with all links made live.
Karen Litzinger, MA, LPC, owner of Litzinger Career Consulting, provides career counseling, job search advising, outplacement consulting, and business etiquette training. More information is available at www.KarensCareerCoaching.com