A Business Lunch is Not a Social Engagement

Posted on 03. Feb, 2009 by Mark Cornish in Uncategorized

I want to take a moment to remind my readers that a business lunch is not a social engagement. It sounds simple enough, but it’s a fact that’s often overlooked or forgotten. It makes sense that it’s easy to forget. We’re trained over years of practice to sit down for meals with friends and family as a way to connect and be together socially. On top of that, when you’re eating out it’s easy to get caught up in the wonderful food, the good-looking wait staff, the game on TV.

I like the way Christopher Elliott puts it in his article 5 business-lunch faux pas:

A business lunch is part meal, part meeting.

Notice it doesn’t say “…part hanging with your pals” or “…part sitting back relaxing.”

Remember, focus on achieving your goals and executing your plan. Even if your lunch partner seems to just want to get to know you and chat, remember not to get too casual. Relaxed is OK. Being too casual is not. If you really need to get some socializing in, save it for after work.

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2 Responses to “A Business Lunch is Not a Social Engagement”

  1. Johanna Magnusson

    04. Feb, 2009

    Also, it’s good to have the skill to be able to smoothly redirect the conversation back to business if the other person keeps changing into personal subjects. Redirecting can save wasted time.

  2. Prepping Helps You Relax at Your Business Lunch | Lunch For Success

    18. Mar, 2009

    [...] because we collectively think of lunch as a social experience.  Mark said it well in a post last month. …a business lunch is not a social engagement. It sounds simple enough, but it’s [...]

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