Don't eat breakfast alone

Why do we actually prefer to meet our customers, partners and suppliers for lunch? A plea for a joint breakfast.

An old saying states: "Breakfast like a king, eat lunch like a nobleman and in the evening like a beggar." Breakfast as the most important meal of the day? Unfortunately, for many managers and entrepreneurs this is only true on Sundays. During the week there is no time for it. But there are good reasons to enjoy breakfast to the full - and combine it with the first meeting of the day.

As often as possible, do not go out for breakfast alone, but spend this time with a customer or supplier.

Breakfast is ideal for such meetings:

• It is a cost-effective and quick affair - both in terms of ordering and processing.
• The question of alcoholic beverages does not arise.
• Short-term postponements of appointments are unlikely.
• The time frame is manageable.
• You will not be burdened by the daily business.
• If the conversation should open up direct options for action, you still have the day ahead of you to be able to deal with it directly.

Another argument for more breakfast appointments: You are not subject to the conventions of lunch or dinner, meaning you have your hands free and can also look through a presentation or joint documents without disturbing anyone. After all, even newspaper reading at breakfast is recognized as educational reading. And apart from coffee, nothing can get cold.

"Breakfast with customers, lunch with partners, dinner with friends"

I would only recommend an appointment for lunch or even dinner if you already know your conversation partner better and the time spent together is more likely to bring each other up to date, deepen the relationship personally or celebrate something together.

So reinterpret the old proverb and put it into practice for yourself - and your conversation partners - in a way that promises success: "Have breakfast with customers, lunch with partners, dine with friends.

And another important point in this context:

Don't spread your out-of-town appointments over too many places.

Instead, choose one coffee shop, one restaurant and one bar. Become a regular customer there. The benefits and added value of this approach will be apparent to you at the latest when you are recognised by the staff in this location and personally welcomed by the owner. You can then rely on a preferred service. This turns a seemingly neutral place into your terrain where you have a home advantage.