How to Feel Comfortable in Social Business Situations
Socializing with colleagues, whether in person or virtually, is a great way to build relationships and bond with your coworkers.
In the United States, it's common to go to a happy hour after work at a bar, and with the rise of remote work, virtual happy hours have also become popular.
However, for non-native speakers, these casual situations can be intimidating. While you may feel comfortable in meetings or presentations because you can prepare for them, it can be harder to handle spontaneous social outings or relaxed virtual small talk.
To help you feel more confident in these situations, it's important to know some key phrases and expressions. This will allow you to make, accept, and reject happy hour invitations smoothly and naturally.
Here are some useful phrases and expressions for participating in a happy hour:
MAKING AN INVITATION
Would anyone be interested in going to happy hour with me this Friday? (This one is good when you are talking to a group.)
Does anyone want to do a virtual happy hour this week? Just to hang out - no shop talk. (“Shop talk” is a casual expression Americans use to refer to business-related conversation.)
Do you want to grab a drink after work? The first round is on me. (This establishes that you are paying for the first drink, but not for all the drinks the whole night.)
Anyone up for a drink on Friday? (This one is more casual and also good when asking a group.)
ACCEPTING AN INVITATION
Sure! I’m free whenever. / I’m free any time. / I’m free after 5.
That sounds fun. When?
Sounds good to me. What time?
Yeah, I'm in. Thanks for the invite. (This one is very casual.)
DECLINING AN INVITATION
I wish I could, but Friday doesn’t work for me. Maybe next time.
Thanks for thinking of me, but I can’t this week.
I can’t Friday, but maybe next time. Thanks for inviting me though.
It's also helpful to know how to gracefully leave a happy hour when you're ready to go, even if it's not over yet.
LEAVING POLITELY
Alright, well, I have to get going. See you next week.
Sorry to interrupt, but I have to go. Bye everyone!
Ok everyone, I’m gonna hop off now. Bye. (This is only for virtual situations.)
This was fun. Let’s do it again sometime.!
I’m starving so I’m gonna go make something to eat. Thanks for hosting the happy hour.
My phone/computer is about to die, so I have to go. Bye everyone! (This is only for virtual situations.)
Practicing these phrases out loud and recording yourself can help you improve your intonation and body language. Remember that using a casual tone and having relaxed facial expressions are crucial for looking and feeling confident in these situations.
With some preparation and practice, you can feel more at ease and enjoy hanging out with your colleagues at any kind of social gathering.
Communication Is Key
Technical skills get you hired, but soft skills get you promoted. Interpersonal communication, in particular, is a soft skill that plays a crucial role in career advancement.
Invest in your future by investing time and effort to improve your communication skills. You got this!
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