Have you ever had a business lunch? Joanna Josephson of Arizona has, and she's going to offer some tips and tricks to keep the business lunch casual, entertaining, and productive. She suggests the following:
· Plan beforehand. Business lunches can be confusing, Joanna Josephson of Arizona admits. It's hard to guess who will end up paying or what to order. It's a good idea to have your order planned out beforehand, so time isn't wasted looking at the menu. (Try to order something that isn't terribly messy to eat.) Also, if you're the host, you should pay. You can avoid awkwardness by giving the restaurant your credit card in advance, so that way there's no banter about which card the server takes.
· Wait for the other. If you're the first at the restaurant, it's better to wait up front for other guests to arrive so you can sit together. Otherwise, it can be difficult for the other party to find you, Joanna Josephson of Arizona says.
· Don't play by gender rules. Joanna Josephson of Arizona says that if you're a woman, don't assume that the man is going to pay or that you can't make suggestions. If you're the host, take control in this area.
· When to bring up business? Joanna Josephson of Arizona says that this really depends on whom you're talking with. If you don't know the other party at all, it's generally better to do more small talk to get to know them. If it's a long-time business partner, you can cut to the chase a little faster. If you're unsure, Joanna Josephson of Arizona says, you can always wait until they bring it up… or wait for the natural cue of after-meal coffee.
With these tips, Joanna Josephson of Arizona knows your next business lunch will go great.
· Plan beforehand. Business lunches can be confusing, Joanna Josephson of Arizona admits. It's hard to guess who will end up paying or what to order. It's a good idea to have your order planned out beforehand, so time isn't wasted looking at the menu. (Try to order something that isn't terribly messy to eat.) Also, if you're the host, you should pay. You can avoid awkwardness by giving the restaurant your credit card in advance, so that way there's no banter about which card the server takes.
· Wait for the other. If you're the first at the restaurant, it's better to wait up front for other guests to arrive so you can sit together. Otherwise, it can be difficult for the other party to find you, Joanna Josephson of Arizona says.
· Don't play by gender rules. Joanna Josephson of Arizona says that if you're a woman, don't assume that the man is going to pay or that you can't make suggestions. If you're the host, take control in this area.
· When to bring up business? Joanna Josephson of Arizona says that this really depends on whom you're talking with. If you don't know the other party at all, it's generally better to do more small talk to get to know them. If it's a long-time business partner, you can cut to the chase a little faster. If you're unsure, Joanna Josephson of Arizona says, you can always wait until they bring it up… or wait for the natural cue of after-meal coffee.
With these tips, Joanna Josephson of Arizona knows your next business lunch will go great.