Perhaps you got assigned to set up a meeting with a client at a Hamptons restaurant. Or you are hosting a night-out with the newbies. Or your boss wanted to treat you but asked you to plan the dinner. Whichever the case, dining with colleagues or superiors from work can be a tricky affair.
Here are some tips to get you through this task.
Make proper reservations (promptly). Proper reservations is not just about telling a restaurant that you’re coming. It means telling them exactly how many are expected, what time you’ll arrive, what seats or area of the venue you’d like to have (VIP area? The bar?), what kind of an office gathering you’d like (sit-down dinner? Or just cocktails?), among other details. If possible, you can also ask information on their bestsellers, and even order ahead. This means less time that you and your colleagues will spend waiting for something to munch on.
Be wise in planning the menu. Know what they want to eat: ask them what they’re allergic to, or if they’re vegetarian, or if they’re on a weight-loss diet. If everyone will be pitching in to pay for the bill, ask them as well what their budget is. If you’re feeling extra generous and want to impress your colleagues, you may opt to treat them to one fancy dish, or a bottle of fine wine. But if a boss is coming with you, tread carefully and check the situation before trying to impress them all.
Go easy on the alcohol. Yes, you’re technically out of your office. And yes, you are not spending this time in your official capacity as an associate at your law firm, or an account manager at your advertising agency. Still, dinners with colleagues still require you to be on your guard. This means going easy on the alcoholic beverages, as you do not want to be remembered as “that employee who passed out drunk at the Hamptons restaurant.” Whether you like it or not, your workmates and especially the bosses will still have their eyes on you, and the impression you make will inevitably affect your relationship with them at the office.
Relax. On the day of your dinner, be alert, but relaxed at the same time. If you’re not relaxed, you will be clumsy and prone to make such classic blunders as spilling wine on your shirt, or stepping on your boss’s foot. On the contrary, being relaxed lets you go through your meal with ease, and the attitude will likely rub off on your companions.
