How to Make the Most of the Company Holiday Party

Never mind getting any work done between now and January 2010- you have to sign up for “secret Santa,” do your  shift  buying cardboard reindeer, and trying to figure out how to wrest financial gain from the annual office mix and mingle.

“This is the year you should focus less on the buffet line and more on connections that will benefit you nito the New Year,” says Maribeth Kuzmeski, author, The Connectors: How the World’s Most Successful Businesspeople Build Relationships and Win Clients for Life.

Here’s how to make the most of your event.

First of all, don’t pretend you can skip it. “These events are usually ‘mandatory’ even if the boss doesn’t say so. Team players attend team meetings,” says attorney Robin Bond.

Have a plan of action before you go. Now, then., Think about who will be attending. Do some research on social networking sites like LinkedIn to learn about attendees. Pick five people with whom you definitely want to speak and don’t avoid the big names, advises Kuzmeski. Challenge yourself by making an effort to connect with at least one top dog, such as your boss’s boss or a client company’s CEO.

Fine tune your elevator pitch. Don’t give people a ten minute introduction about yourself. Instead, prepare a short, 15 second pitch that hits on your high points and top skills. Think about what’s unique about what you have done in a room full of people who are talking about themselves, adds Kuzmeski.

Be prepared for small talk. Have some questions ready, if you’re shy. Consultant Jean Kelley advises simple fodder like: “Are you spending your holidays at home? Do you have your shopping done?” If you’re assertive and outgoing, says Kelley, avoid coming off like a big shot with opinions about the Afghanistan surge or the health bill. In fact, listen twice as much as you talk.

Be generous. Sure, everybody wants to make a connection, collect business cards and try to advance relationships. However, set a concrete goal for yourself that involves both giving and receiving. “For example, you could chat with someone who is looking for a job and offer to introduce her or him to someone in your network. You can also ask for assistance in spreading the word about your new business venture,” says career coach Nancy Ancowitz.

Remember: you’re at work. “Resist the temptation to flaunt yourself on the dance floor when the DJ plays ‘your favorite song”\’,” says Joshua Miller, an executive and personal coach. “Keep in mind that people are watching and YouTube could become your worst enemy,” says Miller. It’s also not cool to be the first to arrive and the last to leave.

But this year’s designated driver may find herself in the driver’s seat next year.