Depending on the culture you come from, more specifically the work culture you come from, you may be missing opportunities to build trust and further your career and influence at parties and social functions.
In certain cultures (namely ones that put emphasis on the individual over the group) one should be very careful of how they are perceived in social situations outside the office. Higher-ups and peers alike are watching to see who you really are outside of the office.
So far not much is different no matter the culture you find yourself working in…. However, here is where the paths diverge.
In that individual society a lot of importance is put on the individual’s character and ability. In the office your colleagues or clients assume you put your best foot forward, but at a dinner after work or grabbing drinks they are watching to see if your true self differs from the one they know in the office. There is nothing sinister in this, they are simply trying to determine what level of trust they should utilize in the relationship. In these cultures, being aware of one’s self and the way you are viewed will serve you well. As your colleagues or clients see you act responsibly and kind they will be more assured this is how you will go about dealing with their business. Of course, the opposite is also true if you are out of control or a different version of yourself outside of the office or after a few drinks. They will automatically assume they need to employ a greater level of care when delegating tasks to you or your company.
As you work across cultures this is one of the many areas that one rule will not suffice. In cultures that value relationship and group over individualism you will find that the same buttoned up and careful approach outside the office will lead to distrust. This is the beauty (challenge) of cross-cultural work, the same actions can lead to painfully opposite results. In this type of culture you often see bosses, who conjure great respect around the halls of the office, taking pictures at a photo booth with a hatchet on their head with their tongue hanging out. While this may seem like an odd thing to those who witness it for the first time, the reason can be traced back to how trust is built in this culture. In this setting, trust can be built by your colleague or client seeing you are comfortable enough with them to let your guard down completely. Being yourself to the point of playing the fool can even be quickest way to gain the trust of a client or colleague.
Of course, all of this is within reason and my perspective is only one perspective. Have you found this to be true or even better, have you identified further insights on this that you can share?