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How
to plan a business lunch with the boss
By Daschell M. Phillips
Are
you wondering about your future with your company during this
time of job uncertainty?
At
this stage in our lives we are most likely the "last ones
hired," so we must develop an incomparable relationship with
our bosses. We can use this relationship to remind them that even
though we don't have many years of experience, we can bring fresh
ideas and new perspectives to the table that can help the business
grow.
What
better way to begin this process than to invite your boss to a
business lunch?
Having
a business lunch will provide a relaxed environment where you
can discuss your career goals and your boss's vision for the future
of the company, said Harriette Cole, author of the etiquette book
"How To Be" and founder of Profundities, an image consulting
firm.
While
a restaurant
setting may feel more casual than meeting in the boss's office
or a big conference room, it is still business. Cole and Anne
Fisher, business columnist at Fortune.com,
have a few tips that you should know in order to get the results
you are after and make your business lunch a success.
How
to approach your boss for a meeting
"It is better to ask your boss to lunch in person,"
Fisher said. "E-mail is tricky because you don't get the
tone or facial expressions. You can run into a point where e-mail
can send the wrong tone. So if you must send an e-mail make sure
it sounds nice."
Perfect
timing
"Don't ask in the middle of a crisis, just find a relaxed
moment," Fisher said. "The best time to approach your
boss is first thing in the morning before she starts working.
But if you know your boss is the type of person that doesn't want
to be bothered until she has had her 10th cup of coffee then wait
until she is in a better mood."
Be
prepared
"When you want something, it is on that person's terms,"
Cole said. So although you have a nice lunch in mind, be ready
to have a seat in your boss's office to talk about your concerns
immediately if necessary.
Find
a restaurant or the type of food your boss likes
Find out what restaurant your boss likes. If it is too expensive
for you, find another restaurant that serves the same type of
food your boss likes. "Make sure you can afford all courses,"
Cole said. Appetizers, soup, salad, main course, dessert and a
15 to 20 percent tip are all things you should be prepared to
pay for, Cole said.
Let
your boss order first
"When ordering let your boss take the lead," Cole said.
If he asks what you think is good on the menu tell him.
Control
the conversation
"Start with casual talk, and after the main course gets there
talk about business," Fisher said. Once the waiter is done
telling you the specials, bringing the drinks, appetizers and
the main course, there will be fewer interruptions to worry about.
Offer
to pay the bill
"It is standard that the highest ranking person is the host
and usually pays for the meal," Fisher said.
But Cole believes that since you invited your boss to lunch you
should offer to pay.
"If the boss wants to pay, you should say 'no please let
me, I invited you.' If the boss still wants to pay let him,"
Cole said.
Time
is of the essence
"Most business lunches last about one or two hours,"
Cole said. "Find out from the boss's assistant how long you
have."
Follow
up
"If the lunch has ended, but you still had additional things
you wanted to discuss, send an e-mail," Fisher said. "After
any meeting with your boss it's never a bad idea to send an e-mail
stating what was discussed at the meeting such as 'thank you for
lunch, and thanks for saying you will try to get me a raise. I
look forward to hearing from you about that.'"
Additional
tips on how to act appropriately during a business lunch.
-
For your own confidence, plan what you are going to wear
for the event ahead of time and make sure you are having a good
hair day. Wear something that makes you comfortable so that
you can be confident at the lunch meeting.
- Make
sure you have well-manicured hands.
- Don't
order anything difficult to eat or anything that you have to
eat with your hands, like spaghetti, corn on the cob, soup,
etc…You want to focus on the reason you invited your boss
to the meeting, not how you are going to eat the food.
- Don't
ever talk while eating.
- Do
not bring your cell phone. If you do bring it turn it off. It
is rude to answer your phone when having lunch.
- Be
polite to waiters. Bosses pay attention to things like that.
- Don't
make a big fuss about your food. If you ordered your steak medium
rare and the waiter brings you a well-done steak, just eat it.
If you don't like it then eat around it. The food is not really
what you're there for anyway.
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Question:
Would you ever ask your boss out for
a business lunch? Why or Why not?
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