Damage Control for Your Holiday Mishap

Damage Control for Your Holiday MishapDamage Control for Your Holiday MishapHow to repair your reputation after a holiday party blunder.Alright, so you didnt read my last article you had a few too many vodka and tonics and things got a little out of hand at your companys holiday party.Whether you mouthed off to your manager, got caught up in an inappropriate conversation, or became a little too friendly with one of your coworkers, its important to address the situation as soon as possible and do a little damage control. While 1-800-Flowers can help you put together an Im sorry I threw up on you at the holiday party flower arrangement, its going to take more than that to reverse the damage done to your reputation.Take the following steps to start repairing your personal brand when you wake up the next morning with a little dread and a killerheadache.Regroup.Take a step back what did you do or say, and who welches involved? Who witnessed anything particularly damaging? Also, dont ass ume the worst find out what happened from a colleague you trust (ideally one who was in better shape than you) before planningyour next steps.Follow Up.Its important to apologize to anyone who was directly involved or offended as a result of your mishap. This is particularly important if it affected your direct manager or staff. Whenever possible, do this face-to-face and in a conference room so you have privacy. Depending on what happened, you may want to loop in HR.Move on.Dont dwell on the issue or continue bringing it up with your coworkers. Whats done is done. Make any necessary apologies and move on. Learn how to recognize your triggers so you can avoid repeating the same mistakes in the future. The best way to improve your personal brand is to demonstrate your professionalism going forward.Add value.It goes without saying that your new goal is to be a model employee at the company. Also, look for ways to add value to the organization outside of your day-to-day activities. Fo r instance, you could volunteer to manage the companys indoor soccer team or head up the next fundraiser for charity.It can take years to build a positive personal brand but only an evening and a few too many cocktails to do some serious damage. Dont let a silly mistake affect your potenzial at the company. You wont be able to fix things overnight however, handling the aftermath with professionalism and tact will put you on the right track.