If you’re like me, just hearing or seeing the word "etiquette"
makes you nervous. It conjures images of Downtown Abbey, books balanced on
girls' heads, and a world of unspoken rules I'm not quite sure of. On the other
hand, business etiquette can make or break your next promotion, job interview,
or networking opportunity.
Knowing we could all use at least a refresher course of what
fork to use and why, Career Development Services coordinated a group meal at
The Capital Grille on Friday, February 17th. Located at Broad and Chestnut
Streets in Center City, the Capital Grille is a popular upscale restaurant
known as a place to make business deals. Alexis Lundeen, Managing Partner
of the Capital Grille Philadelphia, facilitated our workshop, answering all of
our silly and not-so-silly questions.
During our luncheon, we cross-checked etiquette tips we had
heard from friends, family, even online. For instance, did you know that if you
don't finish your meal, it is now appropriate to ask for the leftovers to be
boxed up? However, make sure the ranking member of the table -- your boss
or interviewer -- is the first to eat.
Our most important lesson learned is that the
purpose of a networking or business meal, as Alexis explained it, is not really
about eating! It's really about demonstrating respect and making a positive
impression. Knowing where to place your napkin and to indicate that you are
returning to the table (on your chair) or you have left the meal (on the table)
will help the wait staff wordlessly anticipate your next moves, leaving your
focus on your important business transaction.Finally, as a group, we decided that etiquette is like a muscle -- if you stop exercising it, it is harder to use it once you need to. With all this in mind, I know I will be using this as an excuse to go out for a fancy dinner in the near future and practice my etiquette moves!
