Pretty humbling, isn’t it? It could have been a pair of jeans that cost a buck fifty and it wouldn’t have had the impact, but instead, you sat down carelessly without looking at your surroundings. Now lets walk away from the park - to a formal company business dinner. How do you enter the room?

Do you walking in immediately, scan for a familiar face, a comfortable colleague you seek as refuge, or do you enter gracefully and observe the crowd before sliding slowly into it?

Enter a room to be noticed, not by what you are wearing, but having made your presence known by your confidence and poise. These social gathers are typical in today’s business world.

How much you spent on your dress doesn’t make any difference. A simple dress. Use common sense, this is a business function.

How you are perceived matters

I tend to scan the room smiling. Making myself approachable. Nodding to those familiar faces as I hang back, before I begin to “work the crowd”. Take the time to converse co-workers in other departments that you don’t see very much.

These events are critical to your professional career because it isn’t just another evening out to party. If anything, each and everyone is under the magnifying glass by your peers, including your date.

What you don’t want is to be the source of idle office gossip for weeks later; or even worse, a year later when the party takes place again. My rule for drinking at business dinners is no alcohol until after dinner. Mainly because alcohol has various side effects when you least expect it taking over and making you act unsuitable in your surrounding. Like when you are apprehensive already and could tiger a secure sense of infallibility.

Everyone is more relaxed over a few drinks but is it the place to be more comfortable?

To me, it is a reminder of my first interview with the company and how much I have personally grown since then, as well as a sneak peek into my personal life. I don’t feel as if I shelter my private life, but preserve it as my safe domain.

Another rule: I move around the room talking to everyone, introducing my date but not staying too long in conversation with anyone. Also, steering away from the all so common scenario of a few people indulging in too much alcohol. This could be the biggest pile of bird poop you absolutely need to avoid.

When it seems like your date is integrated, let him handle it. Just stay at his side and enjoy his presence; him being noticed and the way he “removes” you and himself from the conversation. This is what I mean in complimenting each other when you are in a relationship (or just having a guy friend that knows his role).

So after you have become cozy exchanging small talk before dinner and avoiding being part of any public display of intoxication and humiliation of a co-worker, the worst part is already behind you. You still have to get through those long winded speeches, some dancing and most important saying good night and expressing your gratitude to your gracious hosts - but you have made it through the evening without a hitch. You were aware of your surrounds at all times and avoided the bird poop. Priceless!

By the way: did you ever hear this,

Bird poop is a sign from the Heavens above, allegedly bringing us good luck…

I would love to know who thought that one up.