A Day Out With Your Boss

YOU want to have an informal discussion with your boss on a new project. But his erratic schedule is proving to be a fly in the ointment. A nice change and an option would be to go out for lunch. A relaxed atmosphere in the afternoon will make it conducive for a small business talk.

However some dos and don'ts:

Plan and book the table well in advance. Nothing can be more embarrassing than finding the restaurant full or having to wait in a queue.

Tell your boss beforehand so that the regular work schedule is not disturbed. Fix the day most convenient to him.

Though you are doing the inviting, it is a good idea to let him choose the restaurant.

Have a rough idea of the prices so that you are forearmed. Also check for seemingly trivial things like ambience, music (not too loud) and parking space.

Avoid a swanky and an expensive venue. You can't impress a person who knows exactly how much you make!

Find out about his tastes. You certainly don't want to be told in a Chinese restaurant of his allergy to monosodium glutamate!

While dining, drinks can be ordered but hard liquor is best avoided. In India we do not encourage liquid lunches!

Avoid messy dishes. Negotiating sticky pasta or struggling to keep the soup from dribbling down your chin makes you look ridiculous.

You should switch off your cell phone unless you are expecting an important business call. If you get one, excuse yourself politely before attending to it.

Just because your boss is lunching with you, you must not presume it gives you the right to indulge in office politics or too personal a conversation.

The general misconception is that women do not pay for meals. Business etiquette has changed all this! Remember, the person who invites, pays the bill!

RL SAILAJA

sailaja.hyd@cnkonline.com