5 Basic Business Dining Etiquette Tips

Good manners complete your personal image and always improve your business.  It is important to feel confident about your dining etiquette, so you can focus on your guests or clients and not on which fork to use.  Follow these five tips and you will be able to sit back and enjoy!

1. When you are at a restaurant and need to leave the table for a few minutes, you should place your napkin on your chair (not on the table).  When you are leaving the restaurant, place your napkin on the table to the left of your plate.
2. When talking with a business peer, a senior executive joins you from your firm; you should introduce the peer to the executive (“Mr. Sr. Executive, I would like to introduce, Mr. Jr. Executive”).  Avoid saying, I want to introduce “you to”, because it changes the order of importance. 
3. When eating a slice of bread or roll, break the bread into small pieces and butter each piece before eating.  Ever get confused about which bread plate is yours?  Simply remember “solids to the left; liquids to the right”.  So, your bread plate is the one on the left. 
4. At a formal dinner, you are asked to pass the bread.  You should pass the bread to the right and take a roll when the basket comes back around to you.
5. When you want to squeeze the juice from a lemon into your drink, you should use your spoon to shield others from being squirted.

Practicing proper etiquette is another key component of your image.  I am now offering a slimmed down version of my “Mastering Business Etiquette” seminar for my personal clients.  It is appropriate for individuals who have a business focus, and those who simply want to feel more confident in their personal social situations.  If you had any hesitation knowing the information above, you will definitely benefit from this new service!

Dining and Business Etiquette:

Awkward introductions, weak handshakes, and inappropriate dining skills can affect your personal and business relationships.  You will gain the knowledge to be poised and confident in dining and business situations.  When all else is equal, good manners can prove to be your greatest strength. (1½ hours) $225.  Group rates are available for 2 or more.

Kay Hunter is a personal image coach, corporate trainer and president of IMAGINE…The Possibilities in Tustin, CA (714) 665-8866. She has transformed hundreds of clients into more successful and confident professionals, and has spoken to thousands of audience participants on image and credibility.

Comments

[Handshake Gal]

I agree with you about a firm handshake. What do you do when you have to shake hands with a cold fish? I find it so disconcerting. Do you keep up the firm pressure, or just slack off? As a woman, I find other women have weak handshakes, but I don't think I'm a really palm squeezer. Am I unladylike to want to have a firm handshake?