Etiquette Tips for Business Meals

The annual business awards night for your local Chamber of Commerce will attract hundreds of entrepreneurs. You and your spouse will be seated with the President of the Chamber of Commerce. The Head of the Department of Nursing at a local college calls you in for a final interview and invites you to attend a luncheon with other members of the faculty.
Graduation is over and you are a new graduate invited to have lunch with the owner of a prestigious engineering firm.

We are what we eat. It may be more than just a saying when it comes to business meals. Without proper etiquette, prospective employees and business partners can blow their chances to secure jobs or close deals during a business meal.
“The most critical thing to remember is you’re not eating at home. At home many of us tend to put way too much in our mouth, gulp our water or eat entirely too fast.”
“Don’t talk with your mouth full and you shouldn’t ask a question of someone who just took a bite of food, said Bob Laune, president of Dale Carnegie Training Systems.
A business meal should be all about making a favorable first impression. Come prepared with appropriate dinner conversation. You want to contribute to your table talk in a manner that sets other dinner guest at ease. Know in advance who will be attending? What interest might they have? What topics are in agreement with the focus of the function?

Place Setting:
Solids are on your left: Forks, Butter plate and Napkin (napkin may be on your plate also).
Liquids are on your right: Glasses/cups, Knifes and Spoons.
Whether basic or formal place setting, use your utensils from the outside in
Dessert utensil may be above the place setting or served with dessert.
When you have completed your meal, rest your fork and knife together in the center of your plate. And when resting your arms, your elbows shouldn't be on the table.

Keep your Napkin where it belongs. Once everyone is seated, diners should put the napkins in their lap. Etiquette dictates the host should do so first. The napkin remains on your lap or in your hand throughout the entire meal and should be used to gently blot your mouth when needed. If you need to leave the table during the meal, place the napkin on your chair. When you are finished eating you should place your napkin to the left of your plate.

Personal belongs are off the table. Purses, keys, gloves, etc. should never be placed on the table. Personal belongings should be placed on the floor, your lap, behind your back in the chair, or hung on the chair. Make sure your cell phone is turned off and placed out of sight.

Abstain from Alcohol. Your safest bet is to stay away from cocktails-You want to be in full control of your faculties. Also many employers frown upon it. If your dining companion insists that you have a drink, limit it to one.

Write a thank you note. It is always good manners to do that when someone takes you out.
If a job you are interviewing for requires certain standards of conduct with clients and superiors. Your future boss may be scrutinizing your table manners and behavior in social settings. On the other hand interviews that last for several hours may extend through mealtimes, and the employer is acting as a gracious host to provide you with meals. The meal is a time to visit and interact, and this is always more important than the function of eating.
Peace and Blessings with all your endeavors,
Rashun Jones.