Master the Rules of the Business Meal!
6 August 2012
Read by 1818 persons
Business lunches often reveal a lot about our personality, our work behavior, and our level of social graces. This delicate moment can be decisive! If you are inviting a guest for the first time with whom you intend to build lasting working relationships, it is best to be prepared!
Prepare the invitation
The rules of etiquette cannot be improvised! To be sure not to make any mistakes, start by finding out about your counterpart's gastronomic habits. A simple phone call with their assistant will tell you what they like: a "trendy", exotic, vegetarian restaurant or a traditional one. It is also important to know if they follow a particular diet. If your schedule allows, take the time to check out the lunch or dinner location. This is still the best way to get into the swing of things and appear more relaxed when the time comes.
On the day, watch out for clumsiness
At the table, there are many opportunities to make a fool of yourself or to come across as a "clutz"! So, be careful not to choose risky dishes. Carefully avoid chicken and other poultry, which are perilous to carve. Similarly, prefer macaroni to spaghetti with tomato sauce, which guarantees splashes... Shellfish, too delicate to shell, are to be avoided. Finally, opt for lamb's lettuce, less rebellious than frisee lettuce soaked in oil. Regarding the choice of wines, if your guest hesitates, ask the sommelier for advice.
For your part, set an example: do not choose the cheapest dishes, you would come across as a miser in business. Similarly, don't "let yourself go": choosing the most expensive menu could be interpreted as a tendency not to watch expenses.
Engage in natural, yet studied conversation
There is no question of starting a negotiation from the aperitif. To relax the atmosphere, a few common pleasantries about the weather, your guest's hotel or city traffic will do very well. Continue by questioning your interlocutor about their professional background. This is a good springboard to address the business topic that concerns you. Obviously, you will make sure not to show any haste. Negotiations are rarely concluded around the table, however, it remains an ideal moment to prepare the ground. Then, schedule a meeting to discuss business around a meeting table.
Remain a gentleman until the bill: your guest should not know the amount to be paid. Discreetly putting down your credit card at the reception is still the best way to pass for a business partner worthy of the name.
Etre-bien-au-travail.fr
Published on July 18, 2012.
Posted online on August 6, 2012.
Prepare the invitation
The rules of etiquette cannot be improvised! To be sure not to make any mistakes, start by finding out about your counterpart's gastronomic habits. A simple phone call with their assistant will tell you what they like: a "trendy", exotic, vegetarian restaurant or a traditional one. It is also important to know if they follow a particular diet. If your schedule allows, take the time to check out the lunch or dinner location. This is still the best way to get into the swing of things and appear more relaxed when the time comes.
On the day, watch out for clumsiness
At the table, there are many opportunities to make a fool of yourself or to come across as a "clutz"! So, be careful not to choose risky dishes. Carefully avoid chicken and other poultry, which are perilous to carve. Similarly, prefer macaroni to spaghetti with tomato sauce, which guarantees splashes... Shellfish, too delicate to shell, are to be avoided. Finally, opt for lamb's lettuce, less rebellious than frisee lettuce soaked in oil. Regarding the choice of wines, if your guest hesitates, ask the sommelier for advice.
For your part, set an example: do not choose the cheapest dishes, you would come across as a miser in business. Similarly, don't "let yourself go": choosing the most expensive menu could be interpreted as a tendency not to watch expenses.
Engage in natural, yet studied conversation
There is no question of starting a negotiation from the aperitif. To relax the atmosphere, a few common pleasantries about the weather, your guest's hotel or city traffic will do very well. Continue by questioning your interlocutor about their professional background. This is a good springboard to address the business topic that concerns you. Obviously, you will make sure not to show any haste. Negotiations are rarely concluded around the table, however, it remains an ideal moment to prepare the ground. Then, schedule a meeting to discuss business around a meeting table.
Remain a gentleman until the bill: your guest should not know the amount to be paid. Discreetly putting down your credit card at the reception is still the best way to pass for a business partner worthy of the name.
Etre-bien-au-travail.fr
Published on July 18, 2012.
Posted online on August 6, 2012.
