The Etiquette Edge

   The Etiquette Edge, Modern Manners for Business Success, 2nd Edition,  by Beverly Langford,   AMACOM 2016

Broaden the idea of etiquette to mean communications - communicating your respect, your intentions, your apologies, communicating  what is hopefully your good brand - and despite the horrifying ease with which technology can allow lapses in our good intent, etiquette remains one of our most powerful life tools. Author Beverly Langford's second edition of her classic business etiquette book offers a range of topics that cover even more life challenges for which we need expert help.  At some point we will all want to know how to, for example, : - 

1.  say "thank you" and mean it

2.  repress those unfortunate nonverbal messages - pointing with the index finger, for example, or rubbing one's nose! - that we don't want seen!

3.  leave some things unsaid.  In other words, "Tell me less,"  Don't fill a happy on-line baby announcement with gruesome birth and delivery details that kill your original good news intent

4.  know the "Ten Topics to Avoid in Workplace Conversations" (it's no longer just religion and politics!) - including detailed health problems, details of sex life, gossip about the boss, problems with spouse/partner, etc)  

5.  give genuine compliments that count

6.  improve your listening skills - This is a tough skill that we may be totally unaware of - we may be starting the next sentence before the first is completed, we may be talking over employees; whatever the fault, this simple tool is one of our most valuable.

7.  smart phones and social media - know how and when to use these potentially career-breaking tools

Additional sections are dedicated to difficult communications, dealing with a bullying boss, a gossip at work. 

There is also a section on how to handle life tragedies, death of a child for instance, or a bad breakup - what NOT to say, and how to help.  These are all very useful tools to help us navigate tragedy without making things worse!  

Readers will also appreciate that each of Langford's chapters ends with "The Bottom Line," a useful bullet summary of the entire chapter's lessons.