If you own your own business or are looking to move up the corporate ladder, there might come a time when you want to do some business entertaining at your home. But with so much at stake for these kinds of get-togethers, you’ll also want to make sure that you plan, prepare, and execute on these events as precisely as possible.
To help you see how this can be done, here are three tips for doing business entertaining at your home.
Know What Impression You’re Wanting To Make
Once you determine that you want to hold a business event at your home, the first thing that you’ll want to do is figure out what your main goal of this event is and what impression you want to be making on the people that you’ve invited to your event.
Depending on what you decide your goal for the night is, the decisions that you make for almost every aspect of your event will vary. For example, if you’re just wanting to get to know people and have a casual time, you could consider doing food in a buffet style or hosting games. On the other hand, if you’re wanting to make a good impression on your boss or other people who are important to you, you may want to do something a bit more put together and formal.
Turn On The Right Music
The music that you choose to play when entertaining for business purposes can have a big impact on the event.
Ideally, you should try to choose music that won’t take away from the atmosphere of your event but that will also serve as a sort of buffer for times when conversation might lull or other things are taking place. And, by making a playlist in advance, you’ll be sure to avoid any awkward music that might pop up without you realizing it.
Consider Seating
How you arrange the seating at a casual business event at your home can give you the chance to really get to know the people that you’re trying to make connections with.
If you’re wanting to have a more formal seating arrangement, it’s wise to have yourself sit at the head of the table and to have your most distinguished guests sit closest to you. Another option you could consider is to sit the people that you’re more interested in speaking to closest to you and seat others in such a way that everyone will be comfortable. Additionally, if you’re going to be using any outdoor seating, it could be a good idea to bring out a patio heater in the event that the weather turns cold, as you don’t want people to be uncomfortable.
If you have plans to hold a business event at your home, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you learn how to make this a successful event for you.