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Overview
What are the rules for business etiquette today? Is it acceptable to text your boss at home? What is the polite way to ask a colleague to take a distracting conversation behind closed doors? What about the use of smartphones in meetings?
In today’s workplace, manners matter more than ever. With an increasing amount of open-plan workplaces and constant connectivity, the chances of unintentionally annoying or offending others is growing. Merging classic rules of behavior with new realities of modern business, Excuse Me spotlights dozens of puzzling situations, with suggestions for bridging divides.
This book untangles the nuances of:
- meeting etiquette,
- interview expectations,
- proper office attire,
- electronic manners,
- privacy in tight spaces,
- nonverbal cues,
- small talk,
- social media use, and more.
In even the most diverse workplaces, good manners will create an atmosphere of respect, smoothing the way for everyone to succeed. Excuse Me explains how to begin.
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9780814437919 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | AMACOM |
| Publication date: | 08/10/2017 |
| Pages: | 288 |
| Sales rank: | 1,077,638 |
| Product dimensions: | 5.70(w) x 8.40(h) x 1.10(d) |
| Age Range: | 18 Years |
About the Author
Read an Excerpt
The foundation of civility is respect, which is the outward expression of esteem or deference. This is the foundational requirement and, without that, no other behaviors ring true. Respect extends to peoples' privacy, physical space, property, viewpoints, philosophies, religion, gender, ethnicity, physical abilities, background, age, beliefs, and personality. Respect and disrespect can be shown by language, gestures, and actions. Respect is what employees say they want most from their employers and coworkers: respect for their experience, education, intelligence, skill, creativity, hard work, dedication, and the results they produce. Yet respect is what employees say they get least.
Employees, management, and organizations at large are characterized by the behaviors they exhibit and allow. Disrespectful behavior runs the gamut from neglecting basic civilities and outright rudeness to discrimination and bullying. Throughout managements' ranks, disrespect manifests itself with favoritism, subtle pressure, condoning damaging behavior or speech, neglecting to follow up on complaints of harassment or bullying, and criticizing or firing employees who voice concerns. Organizations that engage in illegal or unethical activities, such as deceptive business practices, embezzlement, and predatory pricing, and the cultures such activities create, also contribute to this problem.
It's not enough to say an organization values respect and civility. The boss who preaches the importance of respectful listening without practicing it is better off saying nothing at all. Dr. Todd Whitaker and Dr. Steve Gruenert, professors of educational leadership at Indiana State University and authors of the book School Culture Rewired, say, "The culture of any organization is shaped by the worst behavior the leader is willing to tolerate." It stands to reason that a culture would also be shaped by the best behavior a leader is willing to model.
An incredible 80 percent of employees believe they get no respect at work, and a whopping 95 percent report they have experienced or witnessed disrespect in the workplace, according to Christine Pearson and Christine Porath, authors of the book The Cost of Bad Behavior. Mike Miles, head of social strategy for online retailer SmartSign, said in his article "Work-place Bullying Costs Companies Billions, Wrecks Victims' Health" that the price tag to the U.S. economy for all of this bad behavior is an estimated "360 billion annually due to turnover and decreased work productivity."
Excerpted from EXCUSE ME: The Survival Guide to Modern Business Etiquette by Rosanne J. Thomas. Copyright © 2017 by Rosanne J. Thomas. Published by AMACOM Books, a division of American Management Association, New York, NY. Used with permission.
All rights reserved. http://www.amacombooks.org.
Table of Contents
Contents
Introduction xi
Chapter 1 Respect: Practicing the Platinum Rule 1
Real Respect 3
Respect for Experience 9
Respect for Diversity 13
Chapter 2 Social Skills: Putting Your Best Foot Forward 25
Social Skills 26
The Hiring Process 28
The Interview Experience 33
The Generational Challenge 42
Chapter 3 Professional Presence: Getting It Right 47
The Right Brand 48
The Right Attitude 53
The Right Appearance 56
The Right Way to Travel 61
Chapter 4 Business Behavior: Combining Proven Strategies with 21st Century Expectations 69
The Glass Door 70
Everyday Manners 74
Business Meetings 77
The Team 80
The Cubicle Farm 82
The Open Office 83
The New Schedules 86
The Benefits Buffet 90
The New Realities 92
Chapter 5 Business Communication: Making the Connection 95
Nonverbal Cues 98
The Eyes Have It 102
The Good Conversationalist 104
The Power of Speech 108
The Good Listener 114
Chapter 6 Electronic Communication: Smart Rules for Smart Devices 119
Telephone Skills 121
Telephone Options 128
Email 131
Hardware 135
The Message 137
Chapter 7 Twitter, Etc.: Acing Social Media 143
Your Digital Footprint 145
The Cyber Citizen 150
The Social Network 155
Social Sites 156
Chapter 8 Business Dining: Observing the Formalities 167
The Business of Hospitality 169
Hosts and Guests 174
The Mechanics of a Meal 178
Dining Decorum 184
Chapter 9 The Social Side of Business: Knowing the Basics for Every Situation 191
Entertaining Clients 192
Wine 199
Tipping 207
Activities and Events 207
Colleagues 210
Chapter 10 New Frontiers: Future-Proofing Your Career 215
The Future Workplace 217
Gen Zs 223
Constant Connectivity 225
Digital Detox 227
The Eternal Truths 230
Conclusion 235
Acknowledgments 239
Notes 241
Index 255
About the Author 269