Etiquette Excursion with Mona Johnson

Claremont, CA– Entertaining during the holidays should be rewarding and fun. As the host and hostess there are a few guiding principle that you need to consider. The one thing you do want to remember is to make sure, as much as possible, that your guest are comfortable.

If you have close friends who have divorced and you want to invite both of them to the same event make sure they get along. If you don’t know for sure if they are getting along, ask. You don’t have to tell them why you are asking. Otherwise it would be wise to invite either one or the other or neither one of them to your event. You do not want them or your other guest to feel that they have to be careful or feel uneasy about their conversation during the event.

Antagonistic divorced couples can create an uncomfortable environment for everyone. It is up to the host and hostess to plan for everyone to be comfortable. Of course there is no guarantee that the entire evening will go exactly as planned. Although it is not your responsibility to predict how adults will act, it is in your best interest to do the finest planning that you can to ensure a successful evening for all of your guests.

The host and hostesses should take on the responsibility to plan and coordinate the meal and the attire. Don’t have an after five dressy attire event and serve bar-b-que with stand-up room only. After-five events call for appropriate seating and table settings.

Have a plan for your party. If you plan to play games make sure that you have invited friends that enjoy playing games and are good sports when it comes to playing games. We all have different types of friends, some who like to talk, some who like to dance, some who are story tellers, and some who like to play games.

Enjoy your guests and enjoy yourself. As the host or hostess it is important that you don’t get drunk or angry. Have fun but don’t over do the spirits and don’t let little things get you frustrated to the point that you forget you are the host and hostess.

Also remember not to let your guest leave your home under the influence and get behind the wheel of their automobile. If a guest has had too much to drink either call them a taxi, make arrangements for someone else to drive them home or offer to drive them home yourself.

A prepared host and hostess socialize with their guests. Remember that is why you are having a party.

Plus the host and hostess should be present to change the conversation should it become to stimulating.

Put forth your honest and best effort, have fun and party, party, party.

Send your questions or concerns to Etiquette Excursion. Join me weekly as I answer your questions and share ideas as we explore the journey to good manners! Send your questions or comments to the Inland Valley News, 272 E. 9th Street, Upland, CA 91786 or email, editor@inlandvalleynews.com or to msparksj@verizon.net.

Mona Johnson is the CEO of Personnel Best a consulting firm specializing in how to conduct effective meetings, public speaking, team building, leadership development, microphone etiquette, networking, organizational and self-awareness.