Dining Tips Pay Off

The next time you go out to lunch with a potential client or co-worker, be cognizant of the fact that basic dining etiquette is an important and polite way to develop rapport and show respect for other people. Here are a few guidelines that will demonstrate that you are concerned about others and want to make them feel comfortable.

• Don’t chew with your mouth open. In order to see how annoying this habit can be, try eating in front of a mirror with your lips open and then with your lips closed. After this experiment, you’ll probably never chew with your mouth open again.
• While you’re at a table, don’t drum your fingers or push the flatware around. It’s perceived as a sign of nervousness and disrespect by most people.
• Turn off your cellular phone. Really, enough is enough. Can’t people eat in peace?
• If your napkin or flatware fall to the floor, don’t put them back on the table. Think about it. Once anything hits the floor, it’s dirty and therefore it would be unsanitary to place the objects on the table. The only time you should put your napkin or anything that falls to the floor back on the table is when you’re leaving and your waiter needs a sign that you’re actually on your way out.

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