How to Look Like Less of a Jackass: Lunch Meetings

This is a pretty simple post in what might become a series (depending on the response).

As a freelance designer I work from my home (as I’m sure many of my readers do as well, even though many aren’t designers). As I’d like to make a good impression on all of my current and potential clients, I don’t invite them into my house when we have to get together to discuss a project. It’s just unprofessional.

So I’m often meeting clients for lunch. Over the years I’ve learned a few things about lunch meetings, some I’m sure you’ve heard, others I’m sure you haven’t. Just thought I’d take a few moments to share some of my secrets on how to avoid looking like a jackass during lunch meetings.

You Can Eat – But Eat Light

I don’t agree with all of the commentary I’ve seen suggesting that when on a lunch meeting you shouldn’t eat at all. I’ve been on both sides of the table. I can tell you that if I’m a buyer, I like it when the vendor I’m working with isn’t all business. Idle chit chat is nice, but nothing says informal meeting quite like shoving a sandwich into your face.

But don’t overdo it. You don’t want to look like a jackass, after all. A couple foods to avoid would be …

• ALL PASTA
• Soup (if you’re one of those loud soup suckers)
• Anything “Grande” or “Supersized” (have some shame)
• Nothing which has a name you can’t pronounce (just get the damn chicken)

Some safe foods would be … chicken. Just get the damn chicken.

Don’t Instantly Whip Out the Laptop Please (Unless You’re Asked To)

Unless your client says something along the lines of “Lets get right to business” – take a few moments to chit chat. Talk about the weather. Talk about the restaurant decor. Talk about how bad the Lions are. Something to break the ice, lighten the mood, and connect on a personal level with your client.

Not only are you most likely to land the initial project, but if you connect personally with your client he’s more likely to remember you for future projects. He’s also more likely to give you some slack in work requirements or salary negotiations.

There’s a time to slam the 19″ widescreen laptop on the table, and there’s a time for some idle chit chat.

The Napkin Goes in Your Lap

Come on. This isn’t McDonald’s. Put the napkin in your lap, even if you have no intention of needing it.

Use the Bathroom Before You Go to the Meeting

It’s a perfectly natural thing, but nobody wants a mental image of you straining on the can shortly after you abruptly excused yourself due to the fact that you ate one too many spoonfuls of refried beans. In fact, steer clear of the refried beans altogether.

Lastly, and Most Importantly

Make sure there are no food crumbs or water from your glass on your hand when you give the final handshake. You don’t want your client to be wiping his hands on his jacket because you left some sort of nasty residue as he’s leaving your meeting. You want him to be thinking happy thoughts, not frantically searching for the nearest CVS so he can buy some travel hand sanitizer.

Follow these simple rules, and you will greatly decrease your chances of looking like a lunch meeting jackass. I can’t help you with your awkward stutter though. Gotta figure that one out on your own.