Business Etiquette for Dinning

Dining with professionals involves following certain rules of etiquette in order to maintain a good professional impression.

Professionals in the process of securing a deal with potential partners, as well as company executives looking to boost company morale, will often schedule a business dinner as a courtesy or business strategy. It's important for businesspeople to be aware of dining etiquette rules to maintain a favorable professional impression.

Punctuality

Professionals invited to a business dinner or lunch should be sure to arrive on time for the event. If individuals know they will be late, it is proper etiquette to call the host ahead of time. Businesspeople organizing a business dining event should wait 15 minutes after the scheduled start time of the dinner before calling guests to check on the status of their arrival.

Silverware

It is not proper etiquette to use silverware to gesture or indicate a point during a conversation. Forks, spoons and knives should not be held in a fist, and all utensils should be placed on the plate, not the table, when not in use. Appropriate etiquette also suggests that those dining should never hold their glass and a piece of silverware in the same hand at the same time.

During the Meal

At a business dinner, it is proper etiquette to wait until everyone has received their food before beginning to eat. Taking small bites is best, as this makes it easier to swallow food without choking, and to carry on a conversation during the meal, since small bites can be swallowed quicker. However, it is never appropriate to talk with a mouth full of food. It is also best to eat at the same pace as the other professionals at the table, so that everyone will finish around the same time.

Using Napkin

Napkins should be used several times throughout the business dinner to keep the mouth and hands clean. Napkins should not be used as a tissue; guests should turn away from the table when sneezing or coughing. When a guest has finished eating, the napkin should be placed to the left of the plate, to indicate to the server that the plate can be taken from the table.

Additional Information

When bread is brought to the table, it is proper etiquette to break the bread into smaller pieces and butter each piece before eating. If soup is brought to the table, it should be cooled by stirring it with a spoon, not by blowing on the soup. If a guest has a problem with the meal for any reason, he should bring the issue to the waiter's attention quietly.

References

• University of Delaware: Business Dining Etiquette
• Chiff: Dining Etiquette in Business