The Bartolotta Restaurant Group

The Business Meal is Never About the Food

There has been quite a buzz about business and dining etiquette lately. In our "lives" operating five Milwaukee-area, fine-dining restaurants, we get requests for dining etiquette sessions, related to children and young adults, as well as business people. In exploring this opportunity, we have found numerous articles in publications such as The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal, among others, on this topic.

By 2011, as the first boomers turn 65, available jobs could outnumber workers by 4.3 million, according to research by the Employment Policy Foundation, a think tank based in Washington, D.C. By 2031, that gap could widen to 35 million workers, the group says.

In the late 1950s, children ate dinner at home with their parents most nights and learned basic table manners in the process. In many cases today, both parents work. With menus revolving around hamburgers, chicken nuggets, pizza and the like, there is an entire generation in our world lacking the opportunities to have practiced and developed many table manners, let alone dining etiquette skills.

Social graces, including introductions, mingling, dining etiquette, professional presence, and more, are what sets you apart from the crowd. Studies have shown that people who are skilled in social graces advance further and have greater success in their careers.

To that end, the Bartolotta Restaurants are pleased to offer a variety of sessions, which can be customized for individual / company needs. These sessions include:

I. Arrival and Networking

Most people, at least until they have had quite a bit of experience with networking, are rather uncomfortable walking into a room full of people for a networking event, or even for networking prior to a meal or a meeting. At the conclusion of this session, participants will have an increased comfort level when faced with a networking situation. Just a few of the topics to be discussed in this session include:

Ø       Goals - walk in with a purpose

Ø       Attire (brief discussion)

Ø       Body language

Ø       Introductions

Ø       Name recall

Ø       Conversation starters and how to end a conversation

Ø       Alcohol consumption

II. Business Attire and Grooming

This session is offered for men only and for women only. Separating genders for this session will result in more efficient use of the time required for the program and will allow for more specific areas of discussion. Some of the topics to be discussed in each session include:

Ø Basic grooming

Ø Deciphering dress codes from casual, to business casual, to dressy business, to formal attire

Ø Accessories, including eyewear, jewelry, bags/briefcases, shoes, outerwear, etc.

III. Building a Business Wardrobe

(Prior to attending this session, participants should have completed

Business Attire and Grooming)

Whether just starting out in the professional world, continuing along a chosen career path, or working to enhance your professional presence, this session gives specific examples of how to get the most for your wardrobe dollars. Participants will learn on what wardrobe elements it is and on what elements it is not important to make an investment and how to use specific pieces and accessories in multiple ways and to create different looks.

IV. Host Responsibilities and Considerations

In any setting, be it social or business, or a combination thereof, it is the host who sets the tone for all attendees. Whether planning a meeting or a meal, the host is responsible for consideration of every detail, from invitations, to arrival, introductions, seating, and beyond. We will provide insight into the smallest of details, which are often overlooked by hosts, but will help your guests' experience and reflect very well on you, the host, and your company.

V. Office Etiquette

Guess what? No two people, nor their personalities, are alike. Because people typically need to work together in a business environment, this session offers insight on helping us all just work together and get along better. Areas of discussion will include, but are not limited to:

Ø       Helping someone feel welcome on their first day on the job

Ø       Technology etiquette, including telephone, voice mail, email, etc.

Ø       Personal space / time

Ø       Cubicle etiquette

Ø       Open-door etiquette

Ø       Delegation requests and appropriate (yes or no) responses

VI. The Basics

We will cover the business meal in its entirety and will touch very briefly on arrival and mingling and departure etiquette. This session is offered as an actual, "hands-on," four-course meal and includes course materials. This session will include such subjects as:

Ø       Basic dining etiquette

Ø       Silverware and glassware, and what to do with it

Ø       American vs. Continental Style of eating

Ø       Dining dilemmas - how to avoid and/or recover from them

VII. Wine

For many people, wine is a rather intimidating topic. After participating in this session, attendees will have a better understanding of wine terminology, along with protocol for the following:

Ø Selection

Ø Ordering

Ø Review/Approval and/or refusal of a bottle presented at the table

Ø "Handling" your wine in its glass

Ø Tasting

Ø Discussing

VIII. Selling

Selling is an art, and it has much more to do with listening than with telling or speaking. Join us as we review a tried-and-true 7-step selling process used by many Fortune 100 companies. We will explore creative ways to get your foot in the door, how to keep your prospect list active, and what to actually say and do when you get that all important appointment.

IX. Cultural Etiquette

This session will discuss the basics of business etiquette of four regions of the world. Even though each region (Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Middle East) contains individually unique countries and regions, there are international business etiquette protocols that apply for each. Get insights on how to be a gracious host and/or guest of international business contacts, as we discuss topics such as:

Ø       Communication styles

Ø       Body language

Ø       Personal space differences

Ø       Business card etiquette

Ø       Time

Ø       Tone of voice (verbal and written)

Ø       Dining

X. Contact / Network Management

It is not just what you know or who you know, but how others know you that will impact the effectiveness of your networking. Contacts you make in both your professional and personal life have the potential to become your network, but relationships need to be developed to make that happen. We will discuss the reasons for and importance of building a network, and will offer ideas for how to grow and maintain relationships.

XI. Professional / Personal Organization

This session discusses the importance of organization so that you can run your life instead of letting your life run you. We will discuss challenges of, and offer practical, easy- and quick-to-implement ideas for organizing your space, your schedule, and your tasks. Whether a participant is someone who is already pretty organized and just looking for more ideas or someone who is just not organized at all, this session will give participants the skills and inspiration to help them de-clutter, improve efficiency, and take control of their responsibilities to increase productivity and their sense of accomplishment.

XII. Customer Service Super Stars

Everything your customers/guests/clients think relates to you and your organization does relate to you and your organization - at least in that customer/guest/client's mind, and that is all that matters - basically the old "Perception is reality" saying. People form perceptions and make judgments about minute little details that are easy to overlook or forget if they are minute little details that you and your staff "live with" every day. This session discusses the types of "little things" that are not so little and ideas to add "little things" with big value and impact, regardless of your industry or environment.

Who should attend?
Professionals at all levels of the corporate ladder, sales professionals wishing to enhance their skill set, young executives with aspirations for advancement, and men and women wishing to improve their personal and professional image. Minimum number of attendees varies by session, though attendees from multiple firms/organizations may be combined to meet minimum attendee requirement. Some restrictions apply and venue may vary. Additional resources (books, reference materials) will be discussed and books may be purchased at a discount through the Bartolotta Restaurant Group. Customized sessions and/or off-premise sessions are available for an additional fee. Please contact Jennifer Bartolotta at jenniferbartolotta@bartolottas.com or (414) 258-7885 x204 for schedules, pricing, and additional information.