What is the correct etiquette for a business meal? Tips for the correct etiquette at a business lunch or dinner. What is the correct etiquette for a business meal? According to Maura Graber, who has been...
What is the correct etiquette for a business meal? According to Maura Graber, who has been teaching manners to children and adults for 15 years and is the director of The R.S.V.P. Institute of Etiquette, it is important to remember: "First and foremost, if it is a business lunch or business dinner; the operative word is 'business' not 'lunch' or 'dinner'." To further stress this point she gives this example: "I once interviewed someone who worked at an embassy and asked how diplomats sit, eat, talk and do such important work at the same time. He replied, 'They take one taste, minimum, of each course throughout the meal. They compliment their host and compliment the chef. The host sometimes invites the chef into the room and the diplomats can tell the chef personally how wonderful the food is. Then they just basically sit and move the food around on their plates for the rest of time because they need to concentrate on the business at hand. The food is purely ceremonial.'" So, Maura advises to always eat before attending a business meal so you can order something small and give your full attention to your clients or associates instead of your plate.
Since you will be ordering a slight meal, you more then likely will not have to worry about the proper use of silverware (knowing which fork and/or knife to use during which course), but you will most certainly need this knowledge at some point in the future. This is especially true if you are in a position that entails dining with VIPs of other companies. It is best to learn as much about proper formal dinner etiquette as you can now, before it becomes an issue.
When asked about the correct dressing etiquette for a business meal, Maura replies, "When I am invited to a business lunch or dinner I try to call ahead and find out what the appropriate attire is. I usually will ask the restaurant manager or owner, not the host or hostess. Managers and owners love to have the opportunity to tell people how they prefer diners in their establishment to be dressed. If you do this, don't be surprised when you arrive to feel a bit over dressed compared to everyone else. Just accept it as being 'in the know.' Besides, if you are dressed nicely, you are almost guaranteed a better table. Establishments like to 'showcase' their better dressed clientele in an effort to not only look good but inspire others to dress in the same manner the next time they dine there."
Rules of common courtesy include holding doors open, standing when a companion approaches the table, pulling out a women's chair for her, no elbows on the table. and not talking with food in your mouth. All these rules apply to the correct etiquette for a business meal as they should at any formal dinner.
If you are meeting clients from another country or culture, research their prospective traditions before dining with them. If it is a last minute arrangement, do not be afraid to inquire about their customs at the beginning of the meal. As long as it is done in a respectful way, genuine interest will show your dining companions that you place great significance on them feeling at home and comfortable doing business with you and/or your company.
