Navigate Your Night Out

1. Happy hour with the underlings

The goal: to rally the troops.
The gambit: pull your team together after disappointments, not just after successes, says Fred Mael, an organisational psychologist. A 2008 study found that the more positively staffers viewed their rapport with the boss, the better their work attitudes.
The gaffe: lingering. Order them a round, pay the tab and go. Show how you keep your work and personal life apart.

2. Corporate event with co-workers

The goal: to be the social hub.
The gambit: avoid the sidelines. According to one study, the more central your social position as group leader, the more you're perceived as a take-charge type. Make eye contact and strong gestures to radiate enthusiasm.
The gaffe: trying to start new friendships at the party. Lay the groundwork earlier - friendships at work improve job satisfaction.

3. Dinner with clients

The goal: to cultivate loyalty.
The gambit: raise a glass to success, friendship and the future. A client's loyalty to you is more important than his loyalty to the company, a study in the Journal of Marketing Research found. Revisit successes to kindle espirit de corps, says Dory Hollander, a workplace psychologist.
The gaffe: a pricey restaurant. Clients know they'll end up paying somehow.

4. Night out with the boss

The goal: a promotion.
The gambit: ditch shop talk and explore outside interests. According to a Journal of Business and Psychology study, workers who trust their bosses have better ratings for assertiveness, creativity, risk-taking, motivation and initiative.
The gaffe: dragging the next day. Perform at 8am and you'll earn a spot as the boss's protégé at client dinners and on business trips.

5. Drinks with a potential client

The goal: to set up a deal.
The gambit: you're developing a relationship, so stress your team's unique abilities and avoid overzealous sales talk. One of your primary goals is a follow-up meeting, says Hollander.
The gaffe: going negative on the competition. This can put a potential client on edge - he may already work with the other team, so a put-down may be viewed as a shot at his judgement.