Planning a Successful Business Lunch

How many times have we heard about successful sales meetings taking place in the relaxed atmosphere of a business lunch? Whether meeting with clients to close a sale, with associates to discuss plans, or with employees to meet informally outside the normal workplace, meeting at a restaurant can help make a business gathering highly productive. In today's Workshop, Jeffrey Moses provides some tips to make a business lunch as efficient and enjoyable as possible.

When inviting clients or customers to lunch, always let them select the restaurant and time of meeting. If they have no preference, try to select a restaurant with which you're familiar. Avoid loud, overly busy restaurants or sports taverns because the atmosphere will distract from discussing business.

When plans are made more than several days in advance, always call the customer the day before the meeting in order to confirm location and time. This can help avoid embarrassing oversights or miscommunications in scheduling.

When inviting a client or associate to a business lunch, inform the person that you will be paying the bill. He or she may politely insist on paying, but when you are setting up the date, the responsibility is yours –– both for the bill and the tip. This responsibility also extends to parking and other charges.

When you arrive at the restaurant, ask for seating away from the entrance, buffet areas, or kitchen doors. This will help maintain a settled, focused atmosphere.

Avoid diving right into business conversation. Polite, personal conversation will set a more relaxed and, ultimately, more productive tone. In some circumstances, business should not be discussed until the meal is well underway. In other instances, business subjects can be addressed within 5 - 10 minutes of being seated. If you know your guest extremely well, these time schedules might not apply, and you could begin business talk immediately upon being seated.

Never smoke or order alcoholic beverages unless your guests are doing so. If there is ever a question about the appropriateness of smoking, you'll never go wrong by not doing so.

While eating, avoid taking mouthfuls so large that you might have difficulty answering a question suddenly asked of you. Eat slowly, following rules of etiquette. Keep your attention primarily on the conversation, secondly on the food.

Always be aware of your guests' time. Don't order additional courses or dessert if they're in a rush. Doing so may cause strain, and could bring an otherwise enjoyable experience to a less-than - satisfactory conclusion.

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Дата добавления: 2015-07-25