Excuse Me

Book excerpt: 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 exponentially.Merging classic rules of behavior with new realities of modern business, Excuse Me spotlights dozens of puzzling situations, with suggestions for bridging divides. The 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 much 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. “Both novice and experienced workers will find a wealth of business etiquette in a book that, instead of excusing bad behavior, could help prevent it from happening in the first place” (Foreword Reviews).