Dear Rachel,
I am not a schmoozer by nature, and I don’t drink, which makes me even more of a wet rag at social gatherings. I also all but break out in hives around loud noises, especially loud music. Yet our agency Christmas party is coming up and I'm feeling lots of pressure from those around me to attend. Any advice? --Sign me Wall Flower

Dear Wall,
Here's a very simply solution.

Show up when the party starts, get yourself a ginger ale, and make the rounds, saying hello to everyone, bosses included, even if it's a nod their way.

Don't try to be clever or chatter or act as though this is the most exciting day of your life.

You don't have to. You are in the business of meeting a social obligation, a marginal one at that.

Then after a half hour at the most grab your coat and leave, slipping out as quietly as you came in.

Trust me, your exit will not be noticed. No one will be offended that you left early. By the time you leave everyone will be deep into socializing.

But on your way out the door do notice an interesting thing: how many others are leaving as you do.

The fact is, a lot of folks out there feel the same as you about parties and long ago figured out how to deal with them. They understand that attending is the nice, polite thing to do but that they don't have to stay and feel miserable through a long night of drink and meaningless chatter.

As much as we look forward to the holidays as a time to celebrate and perhaps to let off some steam, the month of December brings with it a lot of events that while treated as social events are really business functions. That includes agency parties.

Treat them as such and you can't go wrong,

As one Chicago media executive put it to me several years ago:

"Remember to be on your best behavior. Dress carefully and appropriately. You don’t have to shine. Just don’t embarrass yourself by forgetting you are at a business function. Don’t worry too much about networking. Just show up. People will notice if you don’t."