BUSINESS DINING

As a host:
Invite the guest personally
Confirm the date, time and place in writing
Apprise the invitee of your guest list
Personally check the seating arrangements
Receive the guest personally outside the dining hall

FOOD PREFERENCES
It is courteous to ask the guest to order
his/her choice of dishes/food and soft
drinks.
And you as host, make the payment of
the bill.
Similarly you should arrange to pay for
the cab to take the guest to his/her
place of stay

FOOD PREFERENCES cont..

Feel free to refuse politely

If you are a teetotaler, decline the drink
politely
Do not be eloquent on the harms of
drinking. Just say Thanks, I would like to
have fresh lime soda (or whatever your
choice).
Although it is best to have avoid drinking at
business and , if however you accept the
drink, be on your limits

Cont

If you receive your dinner plate with too much

food, do not worry. Just eat whatever you want
and indicate that you have finished by placing
your knife and fork together in either the four
O clock or six Oclock position on your plate

TABLE MANNERS

Indians prefer to eat food with their hands. The only

cutlery used by them would be a spoon. Eating with the
hands is just fine. But, if you are using knife and fork,
then you should know how to use them for different
things. Some general rules of correct use of cutlery are
given here:
Cutlery set for a formal style serving
Placed from left to right away from you:
A blunt butter knife placed on bread and butter plate
Dessert spoon together with dessert fork
Water glass
Coffee cup and saucer

Placed from right to left near you

Soup spoon
Dinner knife
Dinner plate
Dinner fork
Salad fork
Dinner napkin

How to used knife and fork!!!

The knife cuts he food, the fork places it into the
mouth
The knife is always held in the right hand
The fork is first held in the left hand with the knife
in the right hand, to cut food into small pieces.
Then the knife is kept on the plate and in its
plate the fork is held in the right hand to place
the food in the mouth. When not in use, both
knife and fork rest on a side plate, never on the
table.

Cont.

The best rule for anyone to follow is

to eat the way you are accustomed
to. Use whatever cutlery you have
been regularly using, with elegance at
formal business meals. If you are
comfortable eating with hands, use
your hand. If you need a spoon , ask
for it.

Courtesy & Etiquette with Foreign

clients

Respect foreign clients religious belief and

cultural needs.
Behave according to the business norms
and etiquette of the place.
Sometimes a foreign visitor may not know
English, therefore use an interpreter for
important business occasions
Try to learn and use some words of
greetings in the visitors language.

Business manners of different

people

Business meetings and personal styles of

Americans:
Shaking hands during introductions is normal
for men, but not so common among women.
Business cards are exchanged only when there
is a need to do so. For instance, to meet later
Punctuality is the most important form of
courtesy and manners
Americans prefer breakfast meetings.
They prefer to call you by your first name.

British

British share most of their culture

with the Europeans. They are formal
in meetings and personal style.
French- they greet you both while
meeting and parting by shaking
hands. They embrace and kiss each
other on meeting and parting

Germans

They are highly formal and punctual.

People are addressed by their surnames.
To show respect to senior businessman they
are sometimes called as Herr Doktor
Similarly businesswoman are always addressed
as Frau

Italian and spanish

They are less formal and not much bothered

about punctuality
Personal welfare and family matters may
precede the business discussion
They freely accept hospitality and gifts without
linking them with their business deals.

Dutch

They speak good English and most of

them are polyglots
They are relaxed in their approach to
business meetings and personal
relations
They enjoy fun and frolic at the
meeting proceedings.

Japanese

Japanese businessmen generally greet the U.S or U.k

businessmen by shaking hands, and not with a bow. You
should also do the same.
You should offer and accept business cards with both the
hands.
The Japanese always like to maintain a personal space.
Hence never back slap or hold their elbow while chatting.
Address the Japanese visitor by using Mr./Ms before the
name, never by the first name
Do not embarrass a Japanese businessmen by insisting
on a point to the extent that he has to say no to your
point, saying no is considered impolite

Cont

Japanese consider giving gifts as an

important part of the business. A gift has to
be in keeping with the status of the
person. Gifts in paira are considered slucky
like pen and pencil set, cufflinks. But not in
fours- the word for death.
Do not send red greeting cards to Japanese
business acquaintances. Red cards in Japan
are funeral notices.

Arabs

Arab businessmen are known for their warmhearted meeting and parting.
They greet by sayingsalaamalayakum (peace
be upon you) accompanied by a firm
handshake.
To show greater warmth and closeness an Arab
visitor may embrace you while placing the right
hand on the heart and the other hand on your
right shoulder and kiss you on both cheeks. Do
not reciprocate his act, unless you are an arab

Cont

To an Arab businessman, giving gifts is a

part of hospitality
As token of gratitude for favors received
expensive gifts are given which are
received as part of business culture.
But never give handkerchiefs as gift, as
they symbolize tears and parting.
Alcohol is not to be served in business
meetings.

Indians

Indians have groomed themselves as international hosts

and global visitors with a mix of modernity and tradition.
Shaking hands at a meeting or parting is common
practice.
Indians are known for their hospitality.
Business meetings are punctual, well planned and
formally conducted.
Protocol of seniority is observed
Business cards are exchanged and presenting a
memento is considered as the gesture of goodwill

Cont

Very important persons are received

at the threshold of the businessmeeting venue, by senior persons
and are presented by bouquets. They
are also normally accompanied back
to their vehicles and duly seen off.

Business-to-business Etiquette

Do not criticise your organization before

your colleagues from other companies.
Feel proud of your organization's
achievements. Keep yourself fully informed
of the new developments of the company.
No company can be free from problems and
setbacks. But highlight the positive gains
and not the losses.

Confidential matters

Keep confidential matters only with a

few people in your company
Secure records and use code names if
the information involves protecting
the concerned persons
Help others develop trust in you. Do
not leak others secret to protect your
own secrets from getting leaked.

Managing customer care

Handle the poorest of customers well.

You cannot afford to ignore the rich
customer who is always the
proverbial king. But your companys
reputation is built on how you treat
your ordinary customers and client.
Be prompt in your supply/service to
the customer.

Cont

Good manners breed good

understanding and mutual respect
necessary for good business relations.
Treat all colleagues with respect, and
recognize the fact that just you have
your position in your company, others
as well have positions above you.