Dining for
Success...
"No rule of
etiquette is of less importance than which fork we
use"
-
Emily Post.
Why Is Dining Etiquette Important?
If
you think a grasp of proper etiquette is for tea-drinking nobles, think
again. Knowing when, what, how and why in social graces is key in
today's business and social arena.
We are all in business
to be successful. Employers, employees, clients, suppliers, co-workers.
America
is an image driven country. Management is aware of how they and
their employees represent that image on behalf of the company. An employee's
value to will be largely determined by how successful
they are at projecting that image.
Representing
the company is no longer restricted to conversing over the telephone or
strictly "making a sales call".
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More
and more business is conducted over the dining table in executive
dining rooms, homes, clubs, and restaurants. This is today's success
strategy: entertaining. It
is essential that you, as the business professional, feel confident in
all dining situations for some of the following reasons:
- Develop strong client relationships
- Increase Sales
- Improve self image
- Exert a confident professionalism
- Close the deal
- Secure a new job or promotion
- Make a positive and lasting impression
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Yet
we live in a time when few of us learned the correct rules. With
the introduction of fast food, pre packaged meals, dual careers, single
parent homes, and rushed lifestyles these skills can be a lost
art. But it should not be.
Don't underestimate the value of the need to know. This is not
about being perfect, it is about being professional.
Top management of many Fortune 500 companies take
potential front line
employees or new hires to lunch or
dinner to observe their comfort
level with executives, spouses,
wait staff,
and managing the formal
dining process.
They observe not only your etiquette skills but how youinteract
with all levels of people, in all situations. Our
manners speak
volumes about us as a professional
and what type of person
we truly are. Being pleasant
with your boss and then speaking condescendingly to
a waiter will probably send you packing.
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Instruction covers
such topics as:
- Difficult-to-eat foods
- Proper table hosting techniques
- The appropriate time to discuss business
- Mealtime manners
- Posture and poise
- Outlining a place setting and stem ware
- Tipping
- Male vs. female roles
You too can do better!
Be poised. Stay informed. Improve
success.
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2009 Youth Class
Recent Graduates
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Class Topics for Children and Teens
Sociologist
N. Charles and M. Kerr conducted a study where mothers were asked to
rate the importance of what children learn at the table:
- Thanking people properly
- Correct use of utensils
- Not bringing books nor toys to the table
- Not making a noise
- Asking Permission before leaving
Besides offering dining etiquette classes for children and teens,
Social and Business Graces also
conducts
training in social and communication skills and manners.
Some topics covered are:
- How to properly answer the telephone
- Using "Please" and "Thank You"
- Writing thank you cards
- Proper greetings
- Accepting and giving compliments
- Importance of being on time
- Guidelines of being a good guest
- Respecting authority
- What it means to be a good sport
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