How to Have Fun When It's Not Strictly Social

Whether it's a formal office party your boss hosts or a casual barbecue at a coworker's house, a work-related social gathering isn't strictly social. The impression you make at the event will impact your job -- for better or, potentially, for worse.

"These [people] aren't your friends; they're your colleagues," stresses Marjorie Brody, founder of Brody Communications and author of Professional Impressions: Etiquette for Everyone, Every Day.

So how do you balance having fun with the fact you're technically still at work? Follow these tips.

Know the Difference Between Mandatory and Optional Attendance

If your firm's president is having a companywide gathering at her lakeside cabin on the outskirts of town, blowing it off is not an option. If you value your job, you need to attend such an event. In that situation, "no-shows are noticeable," says Diane Domeyer, executive director of staffing company OfficeTeam.