Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Bringing out the best in business people

Last week I went to lunch in the City and it’s worth writing about. Not because we enjoyed delicious food and wine and sat at a table in a big open room overlooking the river. Lunches like that are quite a rare event today– perhaps because it takes time (12.30 till at least 2.30) and there was plenty of wine to drink. That is not fashionable lunching in the 2010 financial services world.
What made it so worthwhile and thought provoking was because the guests brought out the best in each other by talking about subjects which prompted both interest and amusement among our diverse group. The guests included a Foreign Editor, a distinguished public servant (now a Bank Deputy Chairman), a business efficiency guru, our host with many years in the investment business and me. We talked about the events of the week, about the arts, about politics, foreign affairs and our own experiences. There was not a single ‘closed‘ question throughout. We were all business people but this was not a ‘business‘ lunch and I believe we got to know each other as individuals far better than if we had been under the focus and discipline of the typical commercial discussion. We were discussing subjects we all had an interest in and had no political or commercial axe to grind. Our role was to say something interesting and ask interesting questions. We were ourselves and that is when the real individual is so apparent.
Of course, as and when there is ever a need for any of us to talk business there will I hope be a basis of trust and respect to underpin that conversation