Working Lunch Etiquette Part II

Careers can literally be made or broken by working lunch etiquette. So many do’s and don’ts, we could literally write a book. Maybe we will. But until then, here are a few additional tips to help you polish your all important working lunch etiquette.

• Once you’ve confirmed for an event, don’t cancel. And certainly don’t cancel at the last minute. Only an extreme emergency should keep you away.
• Don’t be late. It’s rude, plain and simple.
• Remember to keep the topic of conversation clean, appropriate and tasteful no matter who else is doing or saying what. In a room filled with people with poor working lunch etiquette, you will stand out – and in a good way.
• Do not text or talk on the phone in the event room or dining table. If you must remain connected to the outside world, excuse yourself at an appropriate time to step away and check messages, etc.
• If there is table side wine service, have the host order and/or pour the wine.  He or she likely has determined roughly how much they’d like to serve over the course of the event.
• The water goblet and/or drinking glass to the right are yours.
• The bread plate to the left is yours. Use the butter knife to put a butter pat on your bread plate and then use your own knife to butter the bread.
• Even if the event is casual, remember it is still a working lunch. Always be professional. Never say anything you wouldn’t want getting back to anyone else, especially your boss.
• Try to re-use your cocktail napkin and glass to some degree to help your guest have a more green event, and also to help your host ensure they do not run out of clean glassware
• Be polite to the servers. Remember: If you are rude to the service staff, your hosts and other guests will think you are rude to your clients and colleagues. Rude behavior to serving staff over a working lunch with a prospective employer have cost more than one job candidate a promising opportunity.
• Be up to speed on current events. Read the paper or surf the internet beforehand to have current events topics in mind for small talk. But try not to get too political or passionate about any contentious subject.
• Once you have decided what to order, close your menu. It’s a signal to the wait staff that you’re ready to order.
• Wait until everyone is served before beginning to eat – even if there are delays in bringing out some of the food.
• Keep it simple when ordering. Don’t try to show off by ordering the most expensive thing on the menu. Business lunches are not the best place to try something exotic, new or messy.
• Take small bites so you can converse easily without a full mouth. Relax, but remember you’re still in a business setting.
• If you ordered it, eat it.
• Bring any problem with the food discreetly to the attention of the wait staff.
• For the men – ladies first! Not everyone will agree in this day and age but it is a courtesy that many still appreciate and it is a sign of good upbringing.
• For the men – offer to seat the lady and always open the door for her.
• For the women – let the man open the door for you. It is a sign of respect, not belittlement.
• Always offer the last hors d’ oeuvre or glass of wine to the people at your table. If no one wants it, then, and only then, you can take it.
• Even if you are single, never flirt with someone in the room who is married or obviously in a relationship.
• Never flirt or fool around with your boss. Those who cross boundaries with their boss can do untold damage both with the person with whom they flirt and also with colleagues and clients who will assume they did not get their job based on merit.

Working lunch etiquette is a must in today’s competitive business world. Its proper use will not only garner you the respect of your co-workers and bosses, it will also help build your self confidence. And a confident you is bound to knock the socks off of anyone you meet in a professional setting.