Social Graces and Dining Etiquette

Style and grace will boost your

competitive edge.

Lesson 5 Midterm
Objectives
At the end of the lesson BSA 1st year will be
able to learn the following:

- What is Etiquette?

- Why is it needed to learn the basics of

dining etiquette?
What is Etiquette?
 A set of rules that govern the expectations
of social and dining behavior in a
workplace, group or society.

 Table manners are visible signs that you

are a polished and knowledgeable
professional.

 Displaying manners is an act of kindness

and respect to your fellow human beings.
The Basics
• Good Manners come from the inside and do
not change
• Etiquette Rules come from the outside & are
always changing
• Knowing the ”rules” is essential because it
puts you in the position of knowing when it’s
appropriate to bend them.
• A persons feelings are
always more important than
strictly adhering to the
rules.
Meet and Greet
 The Handshake
• Firm but don’t crush anyone’s bones
• Hold for 3-4 seconds
 The proper shake ...

Involves eye contact

Is firm but painless
Lasts about three seconds
Takes only two or three
pumps
Starts and stops crisply
Doesn't continue through the
entire introduction
Never offer only your fingertips, causing a weak, limp handshake.
Begin with your fingers together and your thumb
up.
Shake hands web to web, with a firm but not
crushing grip.

Keep your fingers together and your thumb up.

Slide the web of your hand all the way to the
web of the other person's hand. Otherwise, he or
she ends up shaking hands with your fingers.
Also, shaking web to web effectively prevents
the other person, no matter how strong, from
crunching your knuckles.
The Art of Introducing People
The Art of Introducing People
• Make sure you do it even if you forget
names, get confused, etc.
• Explain who people are
“Mr. Smith, I would like to present my
daughter Cindy. Cindy this is Mr. Smith, the
President of our company.”

Always stand.
More Examples of Introductions
 “Mr. and Mrs. Johnson, I would like to
introduce to you a fellow executive from
Salisbury University, John J. Seagull.
John, this is Mr. and Mrs. Johnson, good
friends of my parents.”

 When introducing a stranger to your

group, you should interrupt the group
and welcome the new member
Names?

• If you can not remember, admit your lapse

• If you can remember other aspects about
the person, talk about those first
• If other people have forgotten your name,
don’t make them suffer. Tell them.
• If you have to stop and think if you should
use a person’s first -- don’t!
• Younger person should wait for the ok
from an older person to use a first name
Cell Phone Etiquette
Use common sense
Respect those who share the space around
you
Many establishments are now setting rules
Use the vibrate option when in close setting
Be discreet and consider time as a factor-
don’t draw out a conversation when talking
to someone else
Etiquette Points
Use “please” and “thank-you” and always
be polite to the wait staff.

Remember: the main point of the cocktail

party/meal is the social experience or
the interview, not the food.

Always send a thank-you note for the

interview and the meal.
Smile!

Smile- it is the
ultimate gesture
understood by all!
Dress for Success
Don’t Wear This!
Wear This
Dining Etiquette
Keep these in mind:
– Why are you there?

– What is your priority?

– Is the booze worth the risk

of blowing your opportunity?
Dining Etiquette
• Should begin the minute you walk into
a dining event

• Should emphasize people and

interaction rather than the food itself

• Should make a favorable impression

• Reflects on the company you represent

– or your competency as a business
person
What stuff is mine?

•Pick up silverware from the outside in –

toward your plate
Napkin Use
• Place your napkin on lap after
every-one has been seated.
• Fold your napkin in half with
crease toward you.
• Use your napkin as necessary.
• Place your napkin on left side of
plate or on your chair when
temporarily leaving table.
• Leave napkin in lap until
everyone is finished.
Starting

 Start only when everyone every one else has been

served. Buffets are the exception

• Offer to others to begin eating if your food is the

only order not yet served

• Always offer to pass bread, salt and pepper, butter

and other condiments nearest you
Passing Food
• Pass Food -If it is in front of you
• Pass to the right. (Counter clockwise)
• Pass salt and Pepper TOGETHER
– Don’t salt your food before you taste it-
shows you make hasty decisions
 Managing Bread and Rolls
•Do not serve yourself bread
•Pick it up and offer it to the person
on your left, then serve yourself and
pass to the right
•Put butter first on your plate, not
directly onto your bread. Butter
wrappers-
•Eat rolls by tearing off bite size
pieces and buttering only one piece
at a time.
Managing Soup-How to eat
• Hold spoon with thumb across the top of the
handle.
• Take soup spoon AWAY from you rather than
toward you.
• Sip from the side of the spoon, not front.
• To get the last bit of soup,
tilt the bowl away from you -
…the Tug boat goes out

• PLEASE, Do not blow

No, No’s

• Don’t push your plate or chair away unless you

are getting up from the table
 Don’t rearrange or stack your dirty dishes
 Never tilt your chair
 Don’t ask people where they are going when they
get up from the table
 If you belch, excuse your self to no one particular
 Don’t chew ice or other inedible parts of the meal
Yes, Yes’s
• Need to get something out of your mouth-
use your tongue & fork
• When in doubt, use a utensil rather than your
fingers
• Hair in your food- don’t spoil someone else’s
meal by talking about it
• Food in teeth, blow nose, rearrange hair- go
to the restroom
• Food in someone else’s teeth- let it go if you
can not be completely subtle
• Don’t like your meal- who cares- tell the host
you do!
Words to the Wise
Nothing that touched your mouth
should ever directly touch the table

If you spill something don’t make a big

deal about it- offer to pay for
cleaning

If you decide to pass on food being

offered, simply say “No Thanks”- no
explanation is needed

Learn to try new foods when you have

the opportunity- you may be
confronted with unfamiliar choices in
the future
When You Are Finished
• Lay your fork and knife (sharp side of
knife inward), at the 4:00/10:00
position.

• Leave plate where it is – don’t push it

away.

• Used napkin goes next to your plate,

not on top of the plate.

• Do not ask for a doggy bag or a

toothpick.
Ready, Set…. Drink
Ordering Alcohol-
– When in the company of strangers, follow
the lead of the host if it is appropriate or not
to order

Wine-
– White Wine glasses are held by the stem, as
not to diminish the chill
– Red Wine glasses are help by the bowl, the
warmth of the hand release the bouquet

Sugar Packets-
– Limit the number of packets used
– Place trash under saucer or tucked under
placement
Going Through Doors

Our grandparents were taught that ladies should

always walk through the door first-not so in today’s
workplace
Whoever arrives at the door first, should open it for
the other person
However, younger executives should defer to older,
senior executives and get to the door first to hold it
open