Montreal Business Lunch

Think that eating lunch at your desk instead of arranging for a Montreal Business Lunch makes you more productive? Not necessarily. "What you can accomplish in an hour at a Montreal Business Lunch more than compensates for the work you could have done at the office," says Robin Jay. She should know.

The former Las Vegas advertising account manager claims her sales skyrocketed as a direct result of the more than 3,000 lunches she scheduled with existing and potential clients.

"People just prefer to do business with people they like," she says. "When you take them out to lunch, make them feel special and put their needs first, you will be rewarded."

When Jay asked why other business people didn't dine with clients or associates more often, many admitted they were scared of saying or doing the wrong thing.

Jay helps to assuage those fears in her book, "The Art of the Business Lunch" which was published earlier this year by Career Press and has already sold more than 25,000 copies.

Building Relationships Between 12 And 2

Jay offers these tips:

A good rule of thumb: think of a Montreal Business Lunch as a first date. Don't order anything too messy or complicated or reveal too much personal information. Keep the conversation light and topical. You can find common ground when talking about weekend plans, popular TV shows or movies, news (though avoid politics), family (ask about the kids), recent or upcoming vacations and sports teams.

Don't forget, of course, to do some research on the client beforehand so you know his or her interests. Finally, whatever you talk about, make sure the client feels like "the most important person in the world," says Jay. At least for that hour.

Copyright (c) Newsweek, Incorporated - 2006.

Top 10 List of Criteria

Robin Jay has established a Top 10 List of Criteria to look for when choosing a restaurant for a Montreal Business Lunch. She believes it is necessary to have all of these elements present, particularly for a first lunch or for any business lunch when you are actually going to make a presentation. You will have every advantage when you take your client to a restaurant that has all of these features:

1. Top-Notch Service. The right service can make or break a deal. Great service is NOT an option!
2. A Fabulous Menu. Stay away from the exotic. Instead, offer a great, fresh selection.
3. The Right Size Room. Seek out large tables with privacy. For a major presentation, find a restaurant that offers a private room, complete with A/V hook-ups.
4. Acoustics that Work. A room that is too loud will have your clients shouting their business or make them uncomfortable. Too quiet and they may fear being overheard.
5. The Right Price. Expensive is impressive, but you can go overboard. A restaurant that features a prix-fixe business lunch menu is ideal - and is guaranteed to make your boss happy.
6. Great Location. Stay as close as possible to your client's office. Doing so will give you more time to talk.
7. Accepts Reservations. Can you imagine meeting your client only to find that the restaurant you chose is booked solid? What a disaster! Make sure they accept reservations and call ahead.
8. The Right Amount of Action. Impress your client with movers and shakers or even a celebrity sighting!
9. Accepts Credit Cards. NEVER, ever pay for a business lunch with cash!
10. Consistency. You have a lot riding on your meetings. It always helps to stack the deck in your favor.

Thank you for visiting Montreal Business Lunch.
More to come soon.

Exit Montreal Business Lunch and go to Le Supper Club
or to Montreal Quebec Restaurants
for more information on the same subject.