Business Dinners: 10 Tips for the Entrepreneur
Author: Aron Schoenfeld
Business dinners are a great way for entrepreneurs to get to know potential partners, team members or even co-founders. It is also a great way to pick an advisor or mentors brain. These dinners allow you get to know someone better and create a long lasting relationship because you now have more than just a working relationship.
However, these dinners are often dull and stuffy or sometimes they are nights filled with an overabundance of alcohol. No matter what type of business dinner you may be a part of; here are some great tips that will help you make it through your night of professional dining.
Eat – The purpose of the dinner is to partake of a meal with colleagues of some sort. They are probably hungry, too. Everyone will feel better and more comfortable without empty stomachs.
Mind your manners – This should be obvious, but remember what your parents told you: don’t chew with your mouth open, don’t reach across the table, don’t rock back in your chair and don’t speak with your mouth full.
Order in turn – The waiter will either go around the table to take orders, or ask the ladies at the table for their orders first. Unless there is hesitation or confusion over who will order first, there is no need to blurt out your order. Take your turn.
Alcohol is ok – Depending on your dinner guests, alcohol may be inappropriate, appropriate or expected. If it is inappropriate, don’t order it. If it’s appropriate, order one drink with dinner. If heavier drinking is expected, work with your comfort level. Very often it is a good idea to let others order first and drink if they are drinking. It is acceptable to add a drink to your order after you have already ordered if everyone else gets a drink too.
But you don’t have to drink – Order a drink and pretend to sip at it or order something nonalcoholic if alcohol is expected and you do not drink.
Keep the conversation going – Engage in harmless talk to get people warmed up if conversation is quiet, stilted or difficult to begin. You can discuss the atmosphere of the restaurant, traffic getting to the restaurant, the parking situation or the route to the restaurant.
Order to your budget – Keep your meal choice reasonable if you are not picking up the tab. Don’t order the most expensive item on the menu unless you are at a modestly priced restaurant. A great rule of thumb is order what you would order if you had to pay for your meal.
If you want to push the budget, let everyone know – Let your colleagues know that it is okay to order the most expensive thing on the menu if you are paying for the meal by saying something like: “The filet looks wonderful. I think I might have that. Does anyone else like filet? If you do, you should get it. I hear that it’s amazing here.”
Get the check – Tell the waiter to bring you the check before the meal is over in the above situation. Do this discreetly.
Know the purpose of the dinner – Keep to the topics at hand if the dinner is to discuss business. If it’s for a relaxing evening of camaraderie, ask your colleagues about themselves-where they went to school, their kids, their favorite sports teams, favorite bands, favorite movies, favorite books, their travels or their hobbies and interests. People love to talk about themselves, so let them talk!
Entrepreneurs need to take advantage of every opportunity to create relationships that will take them to the next level, by following these tips and going out to do it in person over dinner, you will create those relationships that will help make you a long-term success.
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