Many times when we think of business gatherings, we focus on the networking aspect of the event. We think about who we want to meet, who we want to add to our LinkedIn network or how we can impress others in our industry by creating an amazing elevator pitch. All of those things are important, but many times we don’t give enough thought to our wining and dining etiquette at business events, whether it’s cocktails after work with the business team, a lunch meeting with a potential client or a corporate dinner. Here are a few tips to help you ace your next business dining experience.
Know your objective. Generally, when you’re at a business event, the objective is to foster a better relationship with the other party, not to push a sale. Keep this in mind when you prepare topics of conversation. First, identify how you want to nurture or improve the relationships of the people in attendance. Is it to build trust with you and potentially your product line, or thank them for their business? Is the event with co-workers, and is it time to inspire them or congratulate them? The purpose is not to push an agenda at the event, but to take a moment to understand what’s needed for the event to be successful and achieve its purpose. Second, think about possible topics of conversation. (By the way, if you don’t usually prepare topics for conversation, you should.) If you are meeting a potential client for lunch, try to find out or remind yourself what their interests are beforehand. Do they love football? Talk about the upcoming game or ask who their favorite player is. If you aren’t an expert on their interests, this will give you time to research beforehand to have an intelligent conversation, as opposed to Googling “spelunking” in the restaurant restroom. Take a few minutes to recall recent conversations. Look the person up on LinkedIn. Talk to a co-worker who knows the person well. Do your due diligence in advance. Are you meeting workmates for a drink? Ask them where they would travel if they could go anywhere and why. This will prevent you from having to invent a conversation as you go — or worse yet, sit in silence.
Action tip: Take five minutes to consider the purpose of your next event. Prepare five possible topics of conversation for your next dining event. Pick neutral topics, avoiding religion and politics. This doesn’t mean you should dominate the conversation, but if you are prepared, it will help you to feel more confident and knowledgeable.
Review proper place settings. Imagine sitting down at the table during your yearly corporate meal, and seeing three forks, two knives and three different wine glasses at your place setting. Would you know what to do? Don’t assume that it doesn’t matter if you use the fish fork for your salad or the salad fork for dessert. Your table manners essentially reflect who you are in the business world at these events, so it’s important to get it right. You also don’t want to become anxious at the event because you don’t know what to do. Knowing in advance will help you remain calm and focused on the task at hand, not which fork to use. Do your research; there is plenty of information online to help you learn which fork is used for each course. Take a picture if you need to quickly review your place setting before starting your meal, then put your phone away.
Action tip: If a proper table setting scares you, make a replica of the place setting at home and practice. Have your significant other, roommate or a friend assist you until you get it right. Making the extra effort will impress high-level executives, who have years of corporate meals on their belts, when they see a newer company member confidently pick the right utensil without hesitation and move into the appropriate conversation based on the purpose of the meal.
Be a good host. If you have invited a client to lunch at a new restaurant, you are responsible for wine and meal suggestions. Usually restaurants have a menu available online, so take a look beforehand. Suggesting items will help your client know how much money you are willing to spend on lunch. Don’t be too cheap, but stay within your company’s budget. This will also help your client see that you can properly manage money, which inspires confidence. Make sure you can pronounce the dish names correctly. If, after the salad, you notice that your client has lettuce stuck in his or her teeth, be the bigger person and let them know. This might seem embarrassing, but if your client sees that you are honest about the lettuce in their teeth, they will trust that you will be honest with them about their investments.
Action tip: Pick out three top-rated items, such as fish, steak and pasta, to suggest to your client. If you aren’t sure how to pair wine with meals, call beforehand and ask for a recommendation. Your client may want something different altogether, but at least as the host of the meal, you will have completed your part of providing suggestions. This may seem old-fashioned, but if it makes the meal go more smoothly, it’s well worth it.
Show proper table manners. Remember that you are on a business meal, so avoid slurping soups, taking huge bites, blowing your nose or talking with your mouth full. If you need to excuse yourself, put your napkin on your chair and push it in while you are gone. If you drop something on the floor, such as a napkin or a knife, leave it on the floor and let the waiter take care of it. Try a little bit of everything on your plate. If you don’t like it, don’t announce it. Just move on with your dining experience. We’ve all had the experience of being at a buffet with hard-to-handle foods, or ordering a salad that’s difficult to eat while we’re having a conversation. Choose something from the menu that is easy to eat and handle, so you can focus on the relationship-building.
Action tip: If you are unsure of proper table etiquette, observe your surroundings and follow the lead of others at the table. If everyone else is eating croquettes with a fork and knife, you should do the same. If everyone else is eating lobster with their fingers, go for it. If you’re unsure what’s proper, however, err on the side of being more formal.
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How to Navigate Business Meals originally appeared on usnews.com
