Lunch For Success

Don’t Get Drunk (Just a Fun Business Lunch Reminder)

Posted on 06. Feb, 2009 by Craig Peters in Uncategorized

Is it just me, or does it crack you up when you read a business etiquette tip “don’t get drunk”? What else should I not do? Don’t punch your client in the side of the head. Let me write that one down - wouldn’t want to forget that.

In all seriousness, I did enjoy this article by Bernice Mulligan: Working through lunch. She’s got results from Pamela Fay’s survey on manners.

Pamela Fay is managing director of Business Performance Perspectives, a company specialising in business etiquette training and performance management.

Each year she conducts a survey on manners, and the results relating to food etiquette and business dining are fascinating.

“Our most recent survey reveals that 98pc of respondents believe table manners are important in Irish business,” she explains. “Another survey, conducted in 2007 by Berry Bros & Rudd in the UK, revealed that some 15pc of people would actually pull out of a business deal if they had a bad business lunch experience. In addition, for 67pc of respondents, getting drunk at a business lunch is the biggest faux pas that can be made. A further 41pc said they would have doubts about a person’s professional ability if they behaved improperly at lunch.”

I actually think these percentages might be higher than reported. The survey says that 15% of people would pull out of a business deal if they have a bad business lunch experience. That’s the self-reported number. Most people are more beholden to relationship influence then they like to admit (or are even aware of). So, it could certainly be higher than 15%.

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Tags: business etiquette, business lunch, etiquette