Despite everything in the workplace becoming more and more digital, in-person business lunches will never go out of style. I realized very early on in my career how fun and impactful it can be to discuss work or sell your services over a good meal.
6 Tips for a Successful Business Lunch
- Have lunch at a restaurant, not at the office.
- Ask your guest about dietary restrictions and the foods they like before choosing the restaurant.
- Make sure the restaurant is quiet enough for conversation.
- Have some small talk before diving into business matters.
- Do not have your device on the table.
- Always arrive early.
Business lunches have completely transformed my business. I’ve expanded my network, built more meaningful relationships and landed new clients. It doesn’t matter if you’re interacting with a stranger, or someone you know well.
Here’s why it’s time to start putting business lunches on your weekly schedule, whether you’re exploring job options, planning a startup or building your network.
Lunch Eases the Pressure
Meeting to discuss business over lunch enables you to engage in a casual setting. You get the chance to have an informal conversation without being so buttoned up.
A lunch meeting should be the opposite of a tense scenario. That means lunch at a restaurant, not deskside or in a conference room. Traditional office settings are stuffy, don’t allow much privacy and there’s the risk one of you will be interrupted. Take a much-needed break from work and enjoy a good meal that gives you time to unwind for an hour or two.
Lunch Makes Meaningful Connections
Going out to eat to discuss work should be fun. From choosing the restaurant to what you’re going to wear, this is the time to make a great first impression, which will forge a more meaningful connection with your guest. Your package is everything and the office environment doesn’t capture who you truly are. It’s when you step outside of it that you and others around you discover who you are.
To choose the right restaurant, ask your guest what their favorite food is and if they have any dietary restrictions. Take into account what restaurant vibe makes the most sense. Is your guest more traditional? Or would they appreciate being taken to the new hot spot in town? Keep in mind that trendy restaurants can be loud, which might make conversation difficult.
During lunch, don’t focus on closing the deal or making a plan right out the gate. Talk about topics outside of work, such as interests or hobbies. It’s less awkward and a lot more memorable when you do.
For example, when I meet with a journalist, I always start with some small talk and ask them what they are enjoying about their work, what their future plans are and the types of pitches that annoy them so I can determine whether it even makes sense to sell my client. It allows me to put things into perspective without the added pressure of needing to win them over immediately. Instead, I get to learn more about what makes them tick.
Avoid topics around religion or politics or anything that can potentially lead to an argument. Keep it light. Oh, and don’t have your device on the table. This can cause you to lose your train of thought and blurt something out that you might regret. One more thing: Always arrive early.
Professionally, breaking bread breaks down barriers. And hey, your demeanor might succeed in winning someone over when emails and video calls don’t do the trick.
Lunches Expand Your Network
We’ve all experienced reaching out to someone in an email, on social media or by phone and never hearing back. It can be discouraging.
The fact is, a business lunch will most likely pique the interest of the person you want to connect with. I’ve never met anyone who turned down a delicious free meal. Grabbing coffee just doesn’t cut it anymore. People go into business with people they like, and there tends to be a level of respect when you put yourself out there and ask someone to lunch.
In business, long-lasting relationships are crucial and face-to-face conversations cannot be beat. This is something that I am doing all the time. I have grown my professional network and built new relationships by inviting people I wanted to work with out to eat. Selling your services or coming up with a game plan at a dining table can open doors for future meetings and can even result in more referrals and other ways to support each other’s businesses.
Doing business over lunch is not a novel idea, but it sure is a smart move that can lead to many benefits. Business lunches offer a laid-back environment where you can show up as yourself, pitch ideas more freely and watch your professional connections grow more naturally.
