An important seat at the table! Tradition or something more?

Clive Daley shares the importance of sharing meal...

In Asia, face-to-face meetings aren’t just polite—they’re essential. A visit to a factory or head office signals genuine commitment. But more than that, sharing a meal is non-negotiable.

I learned this the hard way.

Years ago, during a meeting with Samsung in Korea—back when I was buying consumer electronics for Currys—I made a rookie mistake. I suggested we skip lunch to stay productive. The reaction was instant. Offended silence. I’ll never forget the look on their faces—stunned, even hurt. And this from some of the toughest negotiators I’d ever met.

That moment taught me something I’ve come to appreciate deeply: in Korea—and across much of Asia—the meal table isn’t just about food. It’s about respect, trust, and connection.

It’s something we’ve lost a little of in the UK. And that’s a shame.

Right now, I’m in China, experiencing what I once would’ve called “classic” Chinese banquets—except to the locals, this is simply lunch or dinner. Yes, the food is incredible. But what strikes me more is what happens around the table.

In the West, we tend to stick to our individual plates and keep our reflections to ourselves—unless prompted. In China, meals are shared. Dishes are passed, stories are exchanged, ideas are unpacked. It’s communal. It’s dynamic. The table becomes a space for learning, challenging, reflecting. Not about power or hierarchy—but openness. Senior leaders use it to explain decisions, offer context, share lessons—not to impose, but to invite discussion.

And in times like these—when the pace of change means we’re compressing months of disruption into mere days—that kind of dialogue matters more than ever.

Well-informed people make better decisions.

As I often say: if you're going to challenge the status quo, disagree with knowledge—not ignorance.

So take your seat at the table.

And if you find yourself at a Chinese dining table, immersed in a fast-flowing Mandarin conversation, don’t assume you’re being excluded. It’s not personal—it’s cultural. It’s how they’ve always communicated.

Stay present. Ask someone to translate. (This week I used a live translation app—it worked brilliantly. I could follow the conversation, contribute my perspective, and feel genuinely part of the discussion.)

“If you’re not at the table, you’re not in the loop.”

Translation App downloded from App Store.