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From time to time all of us go out to dinner with family and friends. Many of us go though great pains planning where we will go, who is going, selecting the right cuisine, calculating how expensive it might be, what time to go, do I need to make a reservations, what to wear, etc, etc? All of this work to make sure we have the perfect social dining experience.
Do you make the same effort when planning to network with someone over a meal as you do for a Saturday night out? After all it is your job! More then likely it is part of your business plan to develop business through networking. What?s on “your” menu? When setting up a business opportunity over lunch or dinner did you establish an agenda before meeting? Will your appetite to develop business be satisfied? Did you consider the location, is it conducive to good conversation, does it offer the correct atmosphere for a serious business discussion? Do you have specific questions for the person you are breaking bread with? Everyone needs to ask these questions in order to get the most out of a business meeting in a restaurant. Remember, you not only need to feed the body ~ you also need to feed the mind.
Prior to arranging a meeting in a restaurant you should think about the conversations you want have over the different courses of the meal. It is up to you to set the table! What is the appetizer or opening conversation? On your agenda what will be the main course ~ what is your objective? And finally for the dessert ~ what will be the perfect ending to this meal?
Yes you must also consider bonding as part of the relationship building process but all too frequently we focus more on bonding then we do on business. Enjoy a balanced meal of business and bonding and your appetite will surely be satisfied. .
After leaving the restaurant ask yourself some simple questions. Did you gain a better understanding of the other persons business ~ do they understand your business better ~ was the person a good connection for others and most importantly ~ did you gain or build trust with each other? If the answer to all of these questions is yes, then you did enjoy a perfect meal.
Networking takes work ~ it takes planning and positive energy. If you take as much time to plan your networking opportunities as you do to plan social events you will be very successful. Like a great meal networking in a restaurant should be enjoyed completely. Look at everything on the menu ~ enjoy the experience and you will have a well fed body and mind.
Bon Appetite
Robert Putt is Executive Director of the American Business Associates New Jersey Chapter. The ABA-NJ is a business development association that meets monthly. Robert is also a published restaurant critic for Times-Ledger Newsgroup, N.Y. and President, RSP Associates hotel and restaurant consulting firm and contributing writer to Pros4Pros website. Individuals seeking more information about the ABA New Jersey may contact Robert at RSPutt@Verizon.net. |
Networking 