When planning a fancy dinner for work, it’s not just about being invited; it’s also really important to think about where everyone sits. The way you arrange the seats can make a big difference, especially for important business dinners. The person organizing the dinner needs to think about many things, like who should sit in the best spot, where to put guests from other countries, and how to use place cards and greetings properly. Paying attention to these details makes guests feel special and appreciated, and it helps the host be remembered for throwing a great event.
Business dining seating strategies to consider:
- When you pick a place to eat, it’s best to choose a restaurant or event place that you already know. This way, you’ll have a good idea of what food they serve and how well they treat their customers. Make sure to reserve your table ahead of time so you can get a nice spot, and try to avoid tables that are next to a mirror or close to the kitchen or bathrooms. If you’re having dinner with an odd number of friends, ask for a round table so everyone can sit together without anyone sitting next to an empty chair.
- When making a seating chart, the most important guest sits to the right of the person hosting the event. If there’s another important guest, they sit to the left of the host. If there’s a third important guest, they sit to the right of the first important guest. It doesn’t matter if the guests are boys or girls; what matters is how important they are.
- If people are speaking different languages, it’s a good idea to have helpers at the table who can translate. This way, everyone from different backgrounds will feel happy and included in the new place they are visiting.
- When you pick a restaurant or place to eat, tell the person in charge where you want everyone to sit, or let them know that you’ll show people where to sit when you get there. If you have a big group, you can use name cards to help everyone find their spot.
- If you’re in charge of the party, it’s important to get there early and say hello to everyone when they come in. If you and a friend get there at the same time, you can walk in together. When you get to the front, wait for the captain to show you where to sit. Your friend will follow the captain, and you will follow your friend. Once you reach the table, you can show your guests where to sit.
These tips will help you have a fun and friendly meal with your coworkers :
- If you have to sit at the table and wait for your friends to come, don’t get a drink or unfold your napkin. You want to seem like you just got there.
- When your friends come over, stand up to say hello to them and keep standing until they sit down.
- At a business dinner, it’s not polite to pull out someone’s chair for them, no matter if they are a girl or a boy. The usual rules about how we treat people don’t count here.
- Keep your napkin on the table until all your friends are sitting down. If there are things you need to talk about before eating, keep your napkin on the table until you’re done talking. When you put your napkin in your lap, it means you’re ready to order your food.
- When you start eating, don’t eat too fast or too slow. Make sure your friends or guests aren’t waiting for you to finish. Remember, even though you’re having a meal, the most important thing is to talk about business, not just enjoy the food.
- Unless it’s a special occasion, you shouldn’t drink alcohol at work dinners. This helps everyone stay focused and act professionally while eating together.
- When you’re at a meal with friends or family, it’s best to stay at the table unless there’s an emergency. If you really need to go to the bathroom, just say “excuse me” and leave quietly.
- Before starting a business meeting, it’s good for the host to have some friendly talking points in mind. It’s best to stay away from topics like politics and religion, or anything that could lead to a big argument.
Not every rule fits every fun event, but if you follow these simple tips as much as you can, it shows that you care and know how to have a good business dinner.
Do you want to learn about how to behave and act in business? We have fun classes that help companies teach their workers how to be better at their jobs and make good friends at work.
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