Smart Rules for Leaders Who Drink

Having recently attended a number of work-related social events I have realised the extent to which leaders and aspiring professionals can inadvertently undermine themselves and their effectiveness. I offer the following 'rules' for smart leaders...

1. Don't be the drunkest person in the room: EVER! 

Appoint a trusted minder to help you with this. 

2. Don't engage in harassment or vilification: EVER! 

Don't arm potential litigants with evidence of sexual, racial, religious or other prejudices, discrimination or harassment

3. Don't tell stories about past bosses or employees that show them in a bad light and you in a good light - it brings your ethics and loyalty into question as people wonder what you'll say about them in the future. 

4. Don't boast about YOU - Boost the team, give others centre stage and be a great audience - shhhh, applaud, cheer! 

5. Don't push alcohol onto people.

6. Don't encourage drunken revelations.

7. Don't dial drunk - take a different mobile with you when you drink. 

One that has only emergency and family numbers in it.

8. DO take the opportunity to prove yourself trustworthy - relax, yes, be friendly, yes, and remain professional, yes, yes, yes. 

9. When you want to let your hair down, DO so with friends with whom your primary relationship is family or social, rather than work or business.

10. At least once in your professional life, DO have a trusted advisor videotape you drunk in a professional setting.  I think you'll find it a whole heap easier to follow these rules after you watch the video!