Breakfast invitation

IF YOU RECEIVE an invitation for breakfast out of the blue, and from someone not seen in a long time, the first reaction is surprise. Sure, the one setting the schedule is well known to you. But why the sudden need to meet up over coffee? Is it just about catching up or discussing health issues?

- By Tony Samson

Is it appropriate to text back — what’s this all about? An assurance that it will just be a one-on-one meeting with no specific agenda to take up may still cause uneasiness. And the invitation is for the following week yet, so there is no hint of urgency or seeking favors. You may even enjoy meeting up and splitting the bill.

Regular reunions are a different matter.

These can be get-togethers of former classmates scheduled regularly, like the first Tuesday of every month at a designated coffee shop and defined start times. There is also a designated individual to remind the Viber group a week before that it’s that time of month again. The event is followed by posted photos to show who showed up, and who didn’t. No captions are needed.

In the corporate setting, the no-agenda meeting (especially breakfast) is unusual. How can there be no specified agenda? Maybe, a “courtesy call” falls into this category? The only assurance in such an informal meeting is that no minutes are taken, and no “next steps” recorded for followups.

It is the corporate form of blind date. Expect to be disappointed.