Excuse Me ─ The Survival Guide to Modern Business Etiquette

Blending different generations, genders, and cultures brings energy and fresh perspectives to the workplace. But the flip side is an environment ripe for confusion and social blunders. Mix in increasingly open-plan workplaces and constant connectivity, and the chance that we’ll unintentionally annoy or offend others increases exponentially.

Exactly what are the rules these days? 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? 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
• Eye contact and nonverbal cues
• Small talk
• Business dining
• Social media use
• Working remotely and flexibly
• And more.

While the youngest employees might seem unruly, the oldest can seem rigid. Good manners create an atmosphere of respect, and smooth the way for everyone to succeed.

Rosanne J. Thomas is founder and president of Protocol Advisors, Inc., providing business etiquette training to professionals at some of the most respected organizations in the world. She also helps prepare students at top colleges and universities to achieve the highest degree of workplace success.