Business Breakfast Etiquette: Keys to Strengthening Relationships

Have you ever felt unsure at a business breakfast? What if it's a buffet instead of à la carte? On one occasion, my boss and I went to breakfast with an important client. Although he wanted to offer us his services, he was also a valuable client for our company.

The Anecdote that Teaches Us a Key Lesson

We arrived for breakfast and were offered coffee, which we all accepted. After a while, a waiter came to ask if we wanted the buffet or à la carte. Although I thought à la carte would be more practical to avoid distracting from the client, my boss and the client opted for the buffet.

We all got up to serve ourselves. The correct thing was to get the fruit first and not grab two plates at the same time. All this time, I was thinking that after finishing the fruit, I would have to get up again and interrupt the conversation. So I chose to ask the chef for an omelette to be brought to my table. My mistake was not asking the others what they wanted to do, because in the end, they placed their order at the table while my plates had already been cleared.

The Golden Rules of Business Etiquette

The ideal thing at a business breakfast, if you have any doubt, is to observe what your client does. You can also suggest options to make it easier for the client to choose so that everyone does the same. For me, the right thing was not to interrupt the conversation, but ultimately, I shouldn't have been thinking about my own comfort. You have to be in harmony with what your client does to always make them feel good.

It wasn't a big deal, but the fluidity with which you interact with people can be interrupted by situations like these. You should always make clients and prospects feel like you are on the same page as them, as that helps strengthen relationships.