The Business Lunch: TOP 20 DINING NO-NOs
Here are some business lunch etiquette tips for dining with coworkers, colleagues or clients:
* Don’t ask to taste someone else’s food or offer anyone a taste of your food.
* Don’t talk with food in your mouth.
* Don’t snap your fingers if you want to call the server. Always say please and thank you when dealing with waiting staff.
* Take small bites and keep your mouth closed while chewing.
* Never say anything negative about the food or bring attention to something you dislike.
Everything you say should be gracious and positive.
* Never discuss a few “taboo” topics while dining: surgery, divorce, finances, religion, and any other topic that’s too personal or too negative. Instead talk about: movies, books, music, latest hot spots to eat or hang out, family, hobbies, travels etc.
* Pace yourself while eating so that you finish at approximately the same time as your host or the majority of diners.
* Don’t season your food before tasting it.
* Don’t use your fingers to scoop food onto your fork.
* Never lick your knife.
* Forget texting or taking calls while you are at the table.
* Don’t reach for something, instead ask someone politely to pass you whatever you need.
* Don’t get drunk. You will instantly lose respect, trust and credibility.
* No matter how hungry you are, don’t eat in such a way that your opposite might think you didn’t have food for days.
* Don’t pick your teeth if you have something stuck between your teeth. Visit the restroom.
* Don’t scrape and stack the plates and push your plate away when you are finished eating.
* Never be rude to the waiting staff.
* Don’t ask for a doggy bag (it’s not professional at all).
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It’s all about the little things. I spoke with a colleague after a business luncheon last week. The best part of my job is constantly being pulled aside and told about the real life daily etiquette escapades people encounter. She shared with me that the highly successful gentleman from her date the night before had texted her when he arrived at her house, “I’m here, come on down.” She text back “Could you please walk up?”
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