PPB July 2016

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ing skills are crucial for feeling
comfortable during meals with
business associates and being
able to make a good impression
while conducting business at the
table. There are a number of
rules about dining including sit-
ting, using your napkin, excusing
yourself and even eating difficult
foods. Here are a few key points:
• If you are hosting a meal, con-
sider your guest’s likes and dis-
likes, and choose the restau-
rant in advance.
• Let your guest know the pur-
pose of the invitation and be
precise about the time and
where you will meet.
• Approach the right side of
your dining chair and enter it
from your left side. By doing
this you will avoid the collision
that happens when everyone
approaches the table at the
same time. When the meal is
over, push your chair back
from the table, rise and exit
from the right side and push
your chair back under the
table. Note that during a busi-
ness meal a woman never
should expect a man to pull
out her chair. However, if a
man offers it is polite to accept
with a nice thank-you.
• The placement of dinnerware
on the dining table is easy to
remember with this trick: all
your solids (bread plate, nap-
kin) are on the left and any-
thing liquid (water goblet,
wine glass, coffee cup) is on
the right.
• When hosting a dinner, prece-
dence determines the seating
priority. Did you know that
square tables are preferred to
round tables for negotiations?
Always allow the leader of the
host group to approve seating.
There are many more dining
suggestions, and I would suggest
a local class to make sure that
you not only learn what’s correct
but are able to practice with oth-
ers so you are comfortable during
a business meal.
As promotional products
professionals we are always
learning new industry-related
skills but having knowledge of
these soft skills will allow you to
more deftly navigate the interna-
tional business world.
Adrienne Barker, MAS, is vice president of distributor Barker Specialty Company in Celebration, Florida.
She recently earned her certification as a corporate etiquette and international protocol consultant and has
subsequently launched Professional Global Etiquette to provide training in business etiquette and protocol.
Reach her at
JULY 2016 • PPB • 45
• 844-251-8544 (toll free)
SALES