“First Impression is the Last Impression.” When you meet someone at dinner, a single mistake can ruin your reputation forever. Before attending any event, meeting or party, we should be looking forward to meeting the host and go out of our way to try to send positive vibes. One should be well dressed according to the occasion. Use of scents or perfumes should never be ignored. One should remain calm and composed and try to enjoy the meal. Here are ten ways to help you to avoid making a wrong impression as a dinner guest.
Greetings
When you are meeting your host of the dinner party, make sure to smile positively. Shake hands and say some sweet and friendly greetings to your host like, nice to meet you or pleasant to see you. Bring some gifts for your hosts like flowers, pastries or chocolates. Introduce yourself to everyone present at the dinner and then takes your place and sit confidently.
Hand Wash
When your host invites you for dinner at the table before going to the dinner table, wash your hands with hand sanitizer or soap and dry your hands; this will add a positive impression.
Dinner Table or Rug
If the dinner is served on the floor, make sure to take off your shoes before sitting and place them with the corner of the wall. If dinner is arranged on the dinner table, always try to sit correctly and be confident in your movements.
Accept the Food
When the meal begins, if your host is serving or asking you to eat more, try not to say “no thanks” continuously because it offends the host and is considered a bad thing. Try to taste everything that is served on the table. Don’t overflow your plate with large portions of food. Also, try your level best to make sure that your spoon or glass does not cause unwanted loud noises while you are using them.
Gossips
Once you have started the dinner, try to engage in a conversation with the person that is sitting next to you; this gives out a positive impression, and you don’t seem to be a rude person. Try to engage in some productive talk rather than just talking about useless stuff.
Eye Contact
If your host talks to you or serves you, try to maintain the eye contact between you and your host. It shows the concern and interest towards your host, which is always considered as a good thing. It is the best way to demonstrate that you are enjoying the dinner and the company if your host.
Don’t Leave a Clean Plate
At the end of your meal, leaving a small amount of your meal on the plate is a reasonable manner. Traditionally it is considered that leaving a clean plate is thought to invite famine and it can also suggest your host that they have not fed you enough. So it can leave a wrong impression if you leave a clean plate on a dinner table; this might sound a bit strange, but traditions must be followed right?
Tasteful Snack
After your meal, if your host might be kind enough to serve you any delicious meal or snack, do not just rush towards the snack and wait to get offered by the host. You should accept this invitation happily, and after having a snack, you should rewash your hands.
Appreciation
Once you have finished your meal and the extra snacks that you got, try to appreciate your host as much as possible for serving you such a wonderful dinner and make him believe that you won’t forget this dinner in your life ever. It delivers a fascinating view of your personality.
Invitation
Before leaving the house of your host, thank them for a wonderful dinner and for inviting you to their place. You should also ask your host to visit your home as soon as possible and give you the chance to serve dinner to him as well.
Table manners play an essential role in maintaining or ruining our impression. There are a lot of other points that should not be done at the dinner table like, avoid taking burps while having your meal, don’t disturb the person sitting next to you by moving a lot. If you feel sneezing, use a tissue and ask for an excuse. Eat your meal slowly and don’t rush at all.
After your meal don’t rush for your home instead, you should try to spend some extra minutes after your dinner with the host. One last but not the least thing is to use napkins during your meal on the dinner table. If you follow the guidelines mentioned above, you will always leave a good impression, and that can strengthen your relationship with that person.