Mind your manners: Business dining etiquette tips

Slurping your spaghetti or eating with your hands can be quite enjoyable when dining alone.  At a work-time luncheon or business dinner, however, dining etiquette can become oh-so-important.

Follow these simple tips, courtesy of Reuters, to impress a potential client, investor or even your new boss and to avoid messy and embarrassing restaurant situations.

1. Spread your napkin on your lap.  Don't tuck it into the neck of your shirt.
2. Sit up straight and don't rest your elbows on the table or lean on them while eating.
3. Wait until everyone has been served before eating.
4. Cutlery should be rested on the plate between bites.  Don't gesture with your knife or fork or clang it loudly against other dishware.
5. Eat at a relaxed pace and try to match the people you're dining with.
6. Avoid talking with your mouth full, even if you have something really great to say.
7. Don't drink your wine or cocktail too quickly.  There's nothing worse than a drunk diner, especially at a business meal.
8. When eating bread, break it apart as you go and butter each piece individually.  Butter should be put on the edge of your side plate.

Finally, don't forget to be yourself.  Laugh, smile, be friendly and just relax!

Get more tips and read the full article here.

Comments

[Maxwell]

Appreciate your blog. These dining etiquette tips are very useful especially if we are on for a business dinner. Thus table manners may impress the client and increase the growth of your business.

[business etiquette]

These are really great tips for the starters in a business field. Our dining etiquette really shows our dignity and our discipline. As you said these kind of behavior really impresses the clients. And help to build up a good image and opinion.