Few things are more stressful in your professional life than dinner with your boss. It’s a swirl of fear that you’ll make a mistake and stress about what will happen if you do. The anxiety is even worse if you’re the host.
Take a deep breath because we’re here to help. If you’re planning to host a dinner party for a partner in your dental practice or someone else who could impact your career, these tips can help.
Dinner With Your Boss: Tips for Planning the Party
If you want to impress the boss at dinner, the night has to go well. These tips can help.
1. Plan with Plenty of Time
The #1 mistake people make in party planning is neglecting to allow themselves the time they need. If you try to throw together your party, chances are that you’ll forget something or things won’t go as planned.
It’s also important to give your guests plenty of notice. If you invite your boss to the party three days before the event, you’re disrespecting their time by causing them to fit it into their schedule.
2. Limit the Number of Guests
As you’re planning your party, it’s easy to get carried away with your invitations. You invite the boss, then you think it’s appropriate to invite your dental CPA. Then you remember a friend who would impress the boss and the ball keeps rolling.
The key is to limit your guests to the number of people who can sit at your tablespace comfortably. If guests have to put their plates on their laps, it takes away class from your event in a hurry.
If possible, limit your guests to one table as well. You want everyone to be able to chat with each other with ease.
You may recall a common rule of thumb with party planning: assume 25% of invited guests won’t show up. That doesn’t apply to small dinner parties. Take your guests’ RSVPs seriously.
3. Base the Menu on Your Strengths
Your guest list is set and you’re ready to show off your culinary skills. You can already hear the “oohs” and “ahhhs” from your guests as you present a golden-brown roasted turkey with all the trimmings.
That’s great if you’ve made a turkey several times. The mistake many hosts make is that they get too ambitious. They try out a complex new recipe and it’s a complete flop.
It’s better to make simple dishes you can do well than to get too adventurous and fall on your face. If you do choose to embrace your inner foodie and try a new dish, make the recipe a few times before the party to make sure you’ve mastered it.
Throwing a Dinner Party That Impresses
Without a doubt, hosting a dinner with your boss is a great opportunity for your career. It’s a chance to get to know your boss better and develop a relationship of trust.
The key is knowing how to throw the party well and the tips above will get you started on the right track.
For more great tips for your dental career and more, check out our blog for dentists.