Seven Rules of a Successful Business Lunch with Your Visitors

A lot of deals have been made over a great meal. Here are seven ways tomaster the business lunch.

Just last week I had a great client passing through and he invited meand several members of my office to lunch. It got me thinking about what makesfor a successful business lunch. So I decided to write down these simple rulesto follow as a guideline.

1. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, and Coffee

From the onset, recognize that the business “lunch” is no longerconfined to our mid-day meal. The term was coined years ago when business wasconducted in more traditional 9:00a.m. to 5:00p.m. workday. However, in today’sworld, work can often be around the clock, we are 24/7. When’s the last timeyou had an eight-hour day? The traditional lunch meeting has merged into anymeal or coffee meeting throughout the day.

2. Agenda and Objectives

Often when we introduce food into the equation, people forget about thepurpose of a meeting. Irrespective of the presence of food, one must alwaysremember one simple truth about the business lunch: it is just like any othermeeting. So when you attend a business lunch you should have an agenda for whatyou want to discuss and defined goals for what you want to achieve.

3. It’s Just Business, Nothing Personal

Food evokes a feeling of comfort within us. When we are comfortable wecan lose focus on our goal and, instead, relax to the point where we assume amore personal stance with the person with whom we are sharing a meal. Bemindful of this fact before your next business lunch. Some personal chit chatis expected, but steer clear of any deep personal discussions or revelations.This is about business. You must have an agenda and goals for the meeting.Unless revealing personal information assists you in achieving one of yourgoals, don’t do it.

4. Don’t Drink Alcohol

Nothing erodes confidence in one’s ability faster than having a drinkin the middle’ of the day. Gone are the days of the two martini lunch. You areexpected to be responsible. Drinking can impair one’s ability to accomplishtheir goals for the meetings. Do you really want to impair your ability toaccomplish your agenda and goals for the meeting? Do you really want to projectthe image that you are going to return to the office to work on their importantmatters after drinking? Try to say no and avoid drinking alcohol during theday.

5. Mind Your Manners

A business lunch can also be a place where other seeminglyinsignificant mannerisms can be exposed potentially damaging a relationship.Have you ever shared a meal with someone whose manners were like those of acaveman? Perhaps they continue to talk while chewing on food spitting littlebits of food out of their mouth as they chat. Perhaps they reach over and grabsomething off of your plate inquiring only too late, “Are you going to eatthat?” If you are at all concerned about proper etiquette, pick up a copy of aguide to make sure you do not exhibit manners or behavior which couldnegatively impact your ability to accomplish your goals over a meal.

6. Keep Them Talking

Nobody likes someone who talks constantly about themselves. People likedialogue, someone who listens and makes them feel as if the person with whomthey are speaking cares about what they are saying. Try to listen more than youtalk. Without violating the rule against being too personal, share enough tocreate a bond or answer questions that they have and then focus on what theother person has to say.

7. Pick up the Check

The person who asked for the meeting should generally pick up thecheck. As such, if you initiated the meeting when the check comes, throw downyour credit card. Consider whether all that you sought to achieve during themeeting has been accomplished. If not, is there more that can be done as themeeting is coming to an end? Also, never remind someone that you paid for themeal even in a joking fashion after the meal has concluded. While you may meanit in a humorous manner, others may take it as an insult. Lastly, if theyinsist on paying for the meal or splitting the check, make sure they initiateit and that is what they want to do. (753 words)