You’Re Not Here To Eat!

YOU’RE NOT HERE TO EAT!

LYNN RUBY, RUBY & COMPANY

[email protected]

Today’s Agenda

The Business Lunch

Eating

Working a Room

So What?

Know the Rules – So You Can Break the Rules

To Put Others at Ease

To Facilitate – and Not Hinder – Business

Sets You Apart

“Etiquette means

behaving yourself a

little better than is

absolutely essential.”

Avoiding Random Acts of Lunch

The Host’s Responsibilities

Issue the invitation

Make reservations

Confirm the morning of

Determine seating

Set agenda

Lead the conversation

Take control of the bill – ASAP!

The Guests’ Responsibilities

Arrive on time

Call restaurant if delayed

Allow the host to be the host

Ask what host recommends

Order from mid-range of menu

Send a thank you within 2 days

Reciprocate if appropriate

Thank You Notes as Easy As 1-2-3.

Never Let Them Drink Alone

Can You Eat Fries With Your Hands?

Can You Eat Asparagus With Your

Hands?

Which Utensils Are Yours?

The Bugs Bunny Method:

Wet is on the Wight

The Okay Sign Method

Formal Place Setting

Typical Place Setting

Name the Items

Eating Styles

American Style Continental Style

Are You Finished With That?

Still Eating Finished

Soup and Salad

What If You Drop Something?

The Napkin

Put in your lap as soon as you sit down

Fold goes toward you

Dab your mouth, don’t wipe

Where does your napkin go …

when you leave the table

during the meal?

when you are done with your meal

and ready to leave the event?

Breaking Bread

How Do You Remove Unwanted

Food From Your Mouth?

Food Service

Food is passed around the table left to right,

just as you read.

Waiters should serve you

on the left and remove

food from the right.

Business Dining No Nos

No boardinghouse reach

No talking with your mouth full

No grooming at the table

No pushing away your plate

No turning glasses upside down

Avoid messy foods.

Why chance it?!

Working a Room

Working a Room is NOT Networking

Before the Event

Why am I going?

Who else is going?

What will we talk about?

Why Am I Going?

Never go with the purpose of getting new clients.

Pushy

Desperate!

Go to start or deepen relationships

Prepare

Goals

Questions

Who Else Is Going?

Get the attendee list

Decide who you most want to meet

Call them in advance

Invite customers/clients/associates to go with you

Goals

Write them Down

Meet 3 people I don’t know

Introduce Steve, my co-worker, to Sharon, my client

Personally meet Bill Winston

Re-connect with Tracy Patterson

What Will We Talk About?

Prepare questions in advance.

Provocative questions

Open-ended questions

High-energy questions

Be a Journalist

What do you love most about your work?

What’s the biggest mistake people make when ..?

How did you get into this line of work?

What’s the most notable trend in your industry?

Handshakes

The No Nos

Two Handed or Covered

Limp Handshake

Finger Squeeze

The Bone Crusher

Correct Handshakes

Web to Web

Equal Level

Firm

Get It Evaluated

How Long Do You Shake?

Where Do Name Tags Go?

Just for Women

Forget the Purse!

Jacket with Pockets

Check Your Handshake

Don’t be Offended

Just for Men

Check your Handshake

Always offer a Handshake to a Woman

Holding chairs, doors, coats for women.

Should you do it?

Breaking and Entering

Avoid Groups of Two

Approach Groups of 3 or More

Position yourself Close to the Group

Give facial feedback to

the conversation

When you feel included, join in

Be open to others who want in

Breaking and Entering

May I join you or is this a private conversation?

Excuse me for interrupting, I’ve been wanting to

meet you.

Circulate every 8-10 minutes.

Moving On

When you have just finished a comment, say:

Excuse me it’s been lovely talking with you

Will you excuse me, I see someone I need to say hello

to.

I don’t want to monopolize your time. I know there are

a lot of other people here who would like to talk with

you.

Let’s continue this conversation over lunch. Can I call

you to arrange something?

Business Cards

Always bring plenty!

Establish rapport first.

Ask for theirs first.

Dos and Don’ts

Introduce yourself to strangers

Circulate freely

Approach groups of 3 or more

Spend 8-10 minutes with each person or group

Introduce others to those you know

Eat and drink moderately

Have specific goals for being there

Offer your hand to each new person

Thank your host prior to leaving

Stand alone waiting for someone to talk to you

Cling to one person the entire night

Approach groups of 2

Monopolize one group or individual’s time

Let two strangers look at each other awkwardly

Overindulge – you’re not there to eat!

Go just because it’s free food and drink

Snub anyone by not offering a handshake

Sneak out the door without saying goodbye

Do Don’t

Juggling It All

Questions

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