How to ... have a successful business lunch

Business lunches are an enjoyable way to do business - but they can be complicated. What should you talk about? Is it better to be formal or informal? How important is it to listen?

How can you have a good business lunch? Mark Addison works for an advertising agency. He says that it is important to remember that business lunches are also business meetings. He-thinks that it's a good idea to keep

things formal the first time that you meet someone. But you don't have to talk about business all the time. Addison says, 'You can't talk about work for two hours, so it's a good idea to have some other topics to talk about.'

It is also important to listen. Sandra Hughes, who manages a PR company, says, 'I have lunches with clients who open their mouth to order and don't close it until the bill is paid.' It can be very

boring if someone dominates the conversation and talks non-stop.

What other things are important for a successful lunch? If you don't know what to do, then watch what your host does. If they have a starter then you can, too; if they drink water, then you do, too. Choose food that is easy to eat. You can enjoy the conversation without worrying about how to eat the meal.

From the Guardian