You’re invited…to a fancy dinner party with the boss and top company executives. Now what? If you’re confused about what to do and how to act, you’re in the right place. In this post, Lisa will cover a wealth of tips and tricks for workplace etiquette success. You’ll learn how to conduct yourself at the dinner table in a way that will gain the approval of your superiors.
Dining – ABCs of Table Manners
- Always remember the company you represent and the standards of behavior that have been set for you.
- Eat slowly and chew with your mouth closed.
- Acknowledge everyone and maintain situational awareness for who you are dining or chatting with.
- Take care to maintain good posture and never slouch in your chair.
- For buffet-style meals, etiquette protocol maintains that, if there are eight or more guests, everyone should wait until at least half of the table is seated before starting to eat your meal.
- Do not correct those who do not have proper etiquette skills.
- It is rude to remind anyone that they are repeating themselves.
- Never speak negatively about your family as this is looked down upon in many cultures.
- If you visit a friend for dinner, never bring an unexpected guest.
- Never complain about the food or service in front of a guest.
- Never ask for a “To Go Box” in a restaurant.
- Never place your napkin in your chair or tuck the napkin into your collar.
- Always ask the person you are dining with about him- or herself, do not brag or talk about yourself.
- Pass the salt and pepper together, never separately.
- Look your waiter in the eye when speaking to him or her and always say “Thank You” and “Please”.
- Be gracious with your tips.
- Never mention the word “restroom” when you need to be excused, since it is not necessary to alert your guest where you are going. Instead, simply ask to be excused.
- If you are taken out to dinner by a company, boss or business associate, a Thank You note is appropriate.
- Do not text instead of sending a hand-written note.
- Never place your tie over your shoulder.
- Never blow on your food to cool it for eating.
- Always clean up before coming to the table. Never wear a cap to the table.
- Turn your cell phone off and NEVER place your phone on the table.
- Wait to start eating until everyone has been served or, if attending a party or reception, wait until you see others eating.
- All dishes should be passed to the right.
- Never take large portions of food.
- Sit up straight at the table and always make eye contact with others at the table.
- Do not burp or slurp.
- Strive to fit into situations that may be uncomfortable to you.
- Always place your napkin to the left of your plate when finished.
- Never say, “I do not like that food.” Instead, try and leave the unwanted food on your plate.
- Never blow your nose at the table. Never comb your hair or apply make-up at the table.
- Never mix food together.
- Never cut up your spaghetti.
- Never eat chicken with your fingers at the dinner table.
- Always cut pizza into bite-size pieces.
- Never discuss politics, religion or illnesses at the table.
- Never argue at the table. Instead, always speak pleasantries at the table.
- Never gossip or talk about co-workers.
- Try not to consume more than one drink.
- Never place a handbag or any sort of hat or gloves on the table.
- Always push your chair under the table when finished.
- Always arrive on time and dress appropriately.
- Do not speak with food in your mouth.
- Never reach for items and never place elbows on the table.
When you sign up for a business etiquette or dining session with Lisa, you’ll receive customized instructions based on your / your company’s needs. This may include an overview of the tips listed above and / or information as discussed below!
Want to learn how to conduct yourself at a business dinner?
Some of the things you’ll learn about when you take a dining and workplace etiquette class from Lisa include the following topics…
The Importance of Gratitude: Sessions will start with gratitude and the why of etiquette. You’ll receive Thank You notes.
- How to write a 4-step Thank You note to clients.
- Thank You note rules.
- When to send a Thank-You note.
- Fundamental rules for writing a note.
What a Place Setting Should Look Like: A placemat reflecting the traditional 5-star dining layout will be provided to students as a guide throughout the training. The 5 most-common types of place settings will be taught.
- Buffet place setting.
- Formal place setting.
- Informal place setting.
- Basic place setting.
- Five-course place setting.
Menu-Based Place Setting:
- How to set the place setting with the menu.
- Learn the correct utensils needed for the food being served.
Identifying Utensils and Glassware:
- Identifying all utensils used in 5-star dining.
- Glass Etiquette – How to use, where to set, identification of each glass and what beverage goes into the glass and what quantity is appropriate.
The Proper Use of Napkins in Formal and Casual Settings:
- The five basic uses of the napkin.
- The difference between the paper napkin and the cloth napkin.
- The difference between a white napkin and black napkin.
- Where to place the napkin at the end of the meal or while being excused from the table.
- The rules of the napkin.
Common and Less-Common Utensils:
- How to use serving pieces when dining buffet-style.
- The language of cutlery.
- How to Proper hold a fork, spoon and knife.
- Selecting the correct utensil for the correct course.
Styles of Dining:
- Continental Style – Used worldwide.
- Zig-Zag Style – Primarily in the USA.
- Family Style – Food served on large platters. How, when, where and what is the rule for sharing food.
- Buffet Style – Rules of etiquette for dining at a buffet.
How to Eat Different Courses and Difficult Foods: Food such as Apple Pie Alameda and Spaghetti, Artichokes etc…
- Oysters
- Soup
- Chicken
- Chinese food with chopsticks
- Hors d’oeuvre
- Lobster
Entering and Exiting a Room:
- Door Etiquette – How to enter and exit a room.
- Knowing when to stand and when to leave.
- When to hold out your hand.
- How to express gratitude when leaving a room.
- Making sure no items are left behind near the table.
Seating a Girl or Woman:
- Proper etiquette when seating a woman or lady at the table.
- After seating the woman or girl, when does the man sit down when other ladies are standing.
- When to stand and when to sit at special meetings, dinners or special events.
Posture and Conversation:
- The why behind maintaining good posture when representing your company.
- Feet and Legs – How to sit and when and where to cross feet and legs.
- Elbows
- Eyes
- The why of good posture. Does poor posture affect your productivity?
Introductions: How people should be introduced.
The Do and Do Nots of Conversation:
- Proverbs and puns should be avoided at all costs.
- Arguments should never happen in a social or work environment or in front of colleagues.
- The importance of reading and keeping up with news and trends.
- Always be up-to-date on facts and trends about your Brand.
The Silent Service Code:
- How to communicate to waiters to indicate if the diner is finished with their plate.
- The why of the Silent Service Code.
Rules for Leaving the Table or Walking away from a Group at a Special Event:
- One should never leave the table before the host or person in charge of the event finishes their food.
- One should ask the host or the oldest person at the table for permission to be excused.
- The one who finishes a meal first should wait for the others to finish before leaving the table.
Need help? Lisa teaches dining and workplace etiquette
The Dallas School of Etiquette offers both private and group lessons! Reach out via our Contact page to request our Etiquette services (including workplace etiquette for your business needs) today.
