How to Behave During a Business Dinner

A business dinner may be more laid-back than a formal office meeting, but it still requires you to stay sharp and behave accordingly. Yes, you want people to feel at ease and open up a little more, but it's still a professional occasion.

You need to decide how to dress in advance, so research the restaurant to gauge the level of formality which might be expected. If it's a more casual dining venue, you can tone down your clothing compared to what you'd wear to a formal meeting. If it's more of a fine dining vibe, you probably want to pick something far smarter.

Whether you're the host or guest, it's important to make a good impression by turning up on time. As the host, you should probably arrive a little early just to check everything is in order and put your prepared seating plan into action. You can find out a little more on this by seeing another eqWIPPD module titled 'How should you prepare for a business dinner'.

Make sure you treat everyone with politeness and respect, this includes the waiting staff as well as invitees. Pace your consumption according to your fellow guests, including when it comes to alcohol. If nobody else is drinking, stay clear. If they are, don't out-drink them. Always order the same courses, because it would be impolite and awkward to be the only one ordering a starter.

A few other tips – never look at your phone, keep small talk away from sensitive subjects and only introduce business matters when the time feels right. Prepare in advance and success is more likely.