Today business meetings are held in cafes all over the city and the café environment has become an important part of any professional persons image.  If you are going to use a café for business meetings it is necessary to find a café that sends a strong message about you and your business. Choose the right surroundings – whether funky or sleek – and you will set the scene for a successful meeting.

Tips for running an effective café meeting:

1. Get to know the barista and wait staff. A good rapport with staff will ensure good service.
2. Try to schedule your meeting outside the peak times of 7.30 am – 9.30 am and 11.30 am -1.30 pm.
3. Restrict numbers to two or three people; any more and it can become too noisy.
4. Dress like you mean business.
5. Remember to carry enough business cards and stationery.
6. Arrive five minutes early so you can organise yourself before the meeting starts.
7. Choose the smallest table available that is away from continual traffic.
8. If you are meeting someone for the first time, place a business card or brochure on the table so they can find you.
9. Use your laptop battery in preference to a power point.
10. Mute or minimise your computer’s sound.
11. Put your phone on silent mode and keep it off the table.
12. Remember, it’s a meeting not a meal. Eating and talking at the same time can be awkward, so just order coffee or tea and, at most, a biscuit.
13. Limit the meeting to around forty-five minutes. If it goes for any longer, you should order more coffee.
14. If you have organised the meeting then you should pay the bill.

The cafe has become the place to conduct meetings and network with other professionals. Your cafe etiquette is a direct reflection of your professionalism, so take the time to perfect these skills. No only will good etiquette reflect favorably on you but on your organisation.

Source: Mansam. Aug 2015