Business Strategy / Leadership
Sobremesa Strategy: Why Real Business Starts When the Meeting Ends
Leo Ng.
Talent & Learning Solutions Architect
Speed has been confused with success in the modern-day working environment. Meetings are brief, timetables are hectic, and telephone calls are terminated when the final agenda has been discussed. Everyone is in a hurry doing task to task, email to email, deadline to deadline, efficiency being the default objective.
In this rapidly changing corporate culture however, there is a thing that is happening that is being lost quietly: human interconnection.
In my journeys through the Spanish speaking cultures, I got to learn one idea, which is, in a way, groundbreaking in the modern business environment: it is plain, sincere and very human. It’s called Sobremesa.
Sobremesa is the word that means over the table. It can be defined as the duration of time taken by the people when they are chatting after the meal is over and plates have been cleared, but people are still talking. No agenda, no pressure, and just people being together.
This free time might not appear productive and so onlookers may see it as a waste of time yet this is the time when trust is built. Successful business relationships are based on trust, which are long-term.
The importance of Sobremesa in Business.
In most cultures, business is not initiated by proposals or contract but initiated by talking. Individuals would like to know with whom they are dealing before they determine what they should work on. That understanding is established by Sobremesa.
It assists individuals in getting past titles and roles to create space in favor of stories, values and intent. Once this occurs, communication will become less complex and the working together will be easy.
On the other hand, hectic meetings create superficial relationships. They could be at their best during the good times but fail when it comes to difficult times.
“You Don’t Do Business With Companies.
You Do Business With People.”
This fact appeals to the minds of numerous leaders in the world. In many cultures, people don’t trust logos, they believe in faces, voices and intent. And in case you jump to the ask before creating a feeling you might have a yes-agreement of no obligation. You can make a business deal but you will not make a relationship.
Sobremesa makes us remember that
“Trust grows in moments that are not measured.”
Such situations can scarcely be found in the reports or dashboards but they define whether a partnership is strong or not.
The Cost of an Efficiency-Only Mindset
In the current business environment, corporate systems are rewarded by speed: quicker decisions, quicker reactions, quicker outcomes. Efficiency is important but when it is used by itself, it introduces blind issues.
Sharing is less when individuals are in a hurry. When there is transactional conversation, this raises misunderstandings. Poor relationships imply that even minor problems will take more time to be solved. The friction, the frequent follow-ups, and the communication failures with time become long-term expenses in the short-term efficiency.
Sobremesa proposes an alternative solution: you have to connect first, since it will be easier to do business when you know each other.
Sobremesa as Skill in Relationship Building
Sobremesa has nothing to do with long lunches or long meetings, it is about purpose. It is the decision to be there a little longer and be interested.
The practice enhances the relationship with clients since it generates a sense of well-being and transparency. There is a sense of listening to the clients instead of controlling them and dialogue is participatory instead of directive.
In the case of teams, Sobremesa develops psychological safety. When one is respected, he or she will be more honest. Whenever people are treated as human beings, not as resources, ideas will be exchanged freely.
Why Slowing Down Helps Business Move Faster
Initially, Sobremesa is slow. An extended call or prolonging a conversation might seem to be inefficient. However, in the real sense, it conserves time in the future.
People react quicker when there is trust. The number of explanations required in decisions is reduced. Disputes are solved less strained. The business proceeds with less hurdles.
Teams and clients work together with a common ground instead of seeking approval or clarification. Connection time minimizes the losses occasioned by misunderstanding and misalignment.
How to Practice Sobremesa in the Workplace
Sobremesa does not demand drastic changes to your schedule and culture overnight. It may start with small and constant steps.
Do not terminate meetings as soon as the agenda is covered. Stay for a few minutes longer. Enquire about the individual behind the position. Be a good listener: do not hurry the talk.
Even basic questions concerning the well-being of a person or what they are doing at the moment can help. These instances over time contribute to familiarity, trust and respect.
Sobremesa and Leadership
Sobremesa is an effective leadership habit to managers and leaders. The teamwork is more successful when the teams are made to feel understood and not bossed about.
When leaders allow the real talk, they would identify the initial indications of stress, withdrawal, or burnout. They also have a better understanding of what drives their people.
Good leadership is not just on strategy and implementation, it is on presence. Sobremesa assists leaders to remain in touch with the human aspect of their teams.
A Simple Challenge
This week, make a single change. Do not put down the phone the minute the agenda is closed. Stay for five extra minutes. Enquire about the individual, not only the project. Listen with no attempt to regulate the result.
You can find to your amazement that everything smoothens out when you decide to unwind and slow down.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sobremesa in business is unstructured implicit conversation that takes place after a meeting or a meal and assists in developing trust and strong working relationships.
It will assist leaders to relate with individuals outside of work, enhance communication, and establish a culture of trust and cooperation.
Yes. Spending some minutes after the virtual meetings chatting will form the same relationship when it is a routine.
No. It tends to enhance productivity through lessening misunderstandings or delays and friction of relationships.
It brings about a sense of comfort and trust, which makes clients more open, engaged and committed to long term relationships.
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