Tips for mastering the business lunch

You’ve got work to do, deadlines to meet and products to move. You also have to eat, so why not kill two birds with one stone and have a business lunch? Business lunches from days gone by consisted of a high-priced restaurant with a bunch of guys in suits.

But with virtual offices and technology that makes doing business from anywhere mainstream. Even the business lunch had to adapt. Here are some tips for how to master the business lunch and turn this mid-day meal into a lucrative business deal.

In business and life in general, people like to feel important. Get to know your lunch mate as much as you can beforehand, so you know how to best approach the meeting. When it comes to picking a location, find one close to their office and make it convenient for them. It gives them the feeling of the home court advantage.

Although this is a business lunch, don’t rush the conversation. You might find the deal takes several meetings or lunches to finalize. No one is going to do business with you solely because you took them out to lunch. Let the lunch be an extension of you and your personality. Don’t hide behind it; instead use it to your advantage. If they get to know you, there is an increased likelihood they will want to do business with you.

Change is a good thing, so make sure your lunches don’t go stagnant. Trying changing things up and taking a client to breakfast instead or for a mid-afternoon coffee and pastry break. The change of time/location will help put your clients at ease and make them feel more comfortable talking with you, and ultimately doing business with you.

When the meal is done, make sure you end the meeting and call for the check. You have a job to do and so does the other person. You don’t have to leave abruptly or in a rush, but keeping control of the meeting establishes leadership and credibility. People always want what they can’t have. It’s best to maintain some air of mystery around you.

As you can see, the business lunch is a lot more complicated than just a gathering of two business people. There are subtle nuances in play that can make the difference between closing the deal and being shot down. Master the business lunch and you can add it to your repertoire.