Business dinners can be the chance to open a door for future growth of a company as well as the opportunity to talk to bosses and co-workers you don't normally see in the office. Being invited to one, however, can be nerve wrecking if you don't know what's expected of you. Knowing how to act, what to say--and not say--and even how to eat properly can have a big impact on the success of the dinner.
Pre-Dinner
To get started on the right foot, it's important to arrive on time. Too early or too late can cause disruption on the hosts' plans for the meal. If you know you're going to be more than five minutes late, calling to let the others know you're on your way will guarantee that the dinner won't start without you.
Once at the table, sit with your back straight and keep hands and elbows off the table. Purses, bags, hats and any other personal items should be either checked in (if the option is available) or placed on the back of your own chair.
Before anything else, napkins should be placed on your lap (not tucked on your shirt). The first bite should be taken by the host. Drinking water is fine, but if wine is offered, you should also wait for the hostess to take the first sip. Toasts are sometimes held before dinners, so the wine glass should remain empty until others start.
Utensils and Eating
If there are several forks, spoons and knives on the table, it means that each dish will require a different one. Start from the outside and work your way towards the plate with each new dish. If a spoon and fork are placed directly over the plate, these are usually for coffee and dessert.
Butter knives are usually place on the top right corner and come with their own plate. When buttering bread, always break the bread into bite-size pieces and butter every piece before you eat, rather than buttering the whole roll or slice of bread.
When the meal is done, utensils should be placed completely over the plate, with the knife and fork together. While you're still eating, they should also be placed on the plate (rather than touching the table) but each on its corresponding site.
Drinking
Water glasses are usually placed on the bottom right. If you have two other glasses, they're usually for red and white wine. Red wine is served in wider, shorter glasses, while white wine (or champagne) is served in thinner and slightly taller glasses.
If the meal is at a restaurant, don't order alcohol unless the host does it first. If nobody else is drinking, you don't want to be the only one with a buzz. Drink slow and allow the alcohol to settle in your stomach before filling the glass again.
Dining Guidelines
Since you're likely to be having a conversation during the meal, you need to pay attention to two main things: not talking with your mouth full and not waving the silverware around or use it to point towards the other guests. All food should be cut into bite-size pieces, so you can chew them and swallow quickly enough to keep up with the pace of the conversation. This applies to everything, even foods like bread and salads. As you're eating, it's important to pay attention to your surroundings and use them as a guideline on how to behave. Eating too fast or too slow will make you stand out, and a business dinner should be about negotiations and strategies, not about yourself.
Common Mistakes
One of the major blunders that can happen during a business dinner is having a cell phone ringing in the middle of a conversation. If you're waiting for a very important call (a family member is in the hospital or something of similar magnitude), having the phone on vibrate and on the pocket against your chest is acceptable. Otherwise, turn it off.
Being aware of conversation topics is also key to a successful business dinner. Anything that can spark controversy, like politics or religion, is better kept off limits. Personal issues such as illnesses, family problems and even money should also be avoided. If the host or another guest ask a question about topics you're not comfortable talking about, give a simple answer that provides no specific details, and hopefully the other person will understand you're not comfortable talking about it.
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