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Debbie Darling and Laura Neal spoke to AMA (American Marketing Association) about business etiquette in a restaurant or bar setting, and offered some networking tips. The meeting fittingly took place in the Cantina Lounge across the street from Mihaylo Hall. The first topic covered was introductions. This starts with the “30-second commercial.” This is a rehearsed promotion of yourself, describing who you are, why you are here, and what you bring to the table. It is important to keep social context in mind. Know who you are relative to others around you, and why you were invited. You want to meet everyone, so it is important that you know how to politely end a conversation and move on to your next “30-second commercial.” As you meet people, you will inevitably exchange business cards. Be careful about how you receive the card; stowing it away in your pant pocket can send a subtle message of disrespect.
What about drinking? It may be acceptable to drink in social business settings, but if you are making a first impression you may want to avoid alcohol. It is not impolite to abstain from drinking, but it is impolite to call attention to anyone not drinking, including yourself. People may interpret your abstinence as judgmental. This is easy to avoid; for instance, you can carry the same drink around all evening and never take a sip. It is always important to watch your behavior in business. Being in a more relaxed setting does not mean that everything you do won’t affect your colleagues’ and superiors’ perception of you. As author John T. Molloy puts says “Handling oneself at a cocktail party or at the dinner table is at least as important as handling oneself skillfully in the board room.”
