Monday, November 17, 2008

Attending parties



1. Your conduct: Everybody knows you are smart and intelligent. You do not have to prove it by arguing at parties.

2. Your conduct:Thanksgiving and holiday parties are meant to relax and enjoy. Do not contribute to the stress one way or the other.

3. Introductions: Be sure to introduce your children of all ages to your guests and vice-a-versa.

4. Your conduct:Do not get into heated political conversations when visiting friends and families. Gatherings are meant to relax and not get stressed out.

5. Your conduct:Be sure to stand up when you introduce yourself to somebody at a table.

6. Your conduct:It is always polite to ask your host if you may bring along additional guests.

7. Your conduct:When your host requests R.S.V.P., it clearly indicates that you have to accept or decline the invitation before the date indicated on the invitation card.

8. Your conduct:If somebody has invited you to a dinner or lunch at a restaurant, be sure to order alcoholic drinks only if the host invites you to do so. Also, order entrees which are reasonably priced. It is not a good idea to order a lobster entree unless the host indicates it is okay to do so.

9. Introductions: It is important that you introduce both parties. Many a times people introduce only one party.

10. Introductions: While doing introductions, personalize your introductions and keep them short. For example, you may introduce your friend as "my good friend from high school days".

11. Introductions: Always introduce ladies first. If you are introducing two ladies, make sure you introduce the visiting lady first.

12. Conversation: You have recently read a new book. You loved the book and now you want to let the world know that you have read the book. How should start discussing the book with others at a party? It is perfectly fine to inquire if anybody else had read the book. It is more appropriate to ask open ended questions. Inquire what others liked about the book rather than going into a monologue on the book. Most importantly take cues from others if they want to discuss the book further. Do not make mistake of turning the party into a book reading club!

13. Conversational Topics: Select a neutral topic for discussion so as not get emotionally excited. Sports, travel, books, movies etc are good topics. Stay away from politics.

14. You are attending a large gathering at your friend's home. There is an elegant buffet lined up for the guests. You serve a platter full of food and quickly realize that one of the dishes tastes strange. You suspect that the food may have gone bad. What should you do?

Your options:

1. Announce to all the guests that they should not consume that particular dish.
2. Privately let your host know of your suspicion and let the host decide what to do.
3. You go from table to table letting people know of your suspicion.

The recommended option is option #2. You do not have any right to destroy the party or scare the guests. Any good host will take the right steps. Perhaps you are wrong. The dish was meant to taste the way it was.

No comments:

Post a Comment