Customer Reviews

Business Etiquette: 101 Ways to Conduct Business With Charm and Savvy

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I read the excerpt of this book in an MBA career magazine recently and I have to say it's ridiculous. I am born and raised in Hong Kong and have worked in an investment bank there, so you bet I know a thing or two about the Chinese culture. Look at what the author's advice is for doing business in Hong Kong: 1)"Acknowledge the most senior person first by bowing. Always bow lower than a person who outranks you, and raise yourself only after the other person has done so..." -- Pretty conplex set of rules, eh? Wonder if they're true? The truth is, we don't bow at all!! 2)'Touching and patting are considered taboo' -- never heard of it. 3)'Men should avoid crossing their legs while sitting' -- Not true. Never heard of it. 4)'Avoid giving a clock. The noise it makes signifies death.'-- Imaginative. Actually, it's true, but for the wrong reason. It's not the noise it makes, but the pronunciation of 'give clock' in Chinese sounds like a Chinese custom that is related to death. This shows how much an 'expert' the author is. 5)Now this is the best one: "You will not be offered a napkin. It is appropriate to blot your mouth on the tablecloth." -- First you WILL be offered a napkin. And if you follow the author's advice and blot your mouth on the tablecloth, you will receive the same look from everyone at the table as you would if you do it in the western world. My impression is that the book plays a lot of little tricks with Chinese customs the same way Hollywood directors do, which is far from the truth. (my comments only refer to the part on doing business in Hong Kong; perhaps the author does a fine job in other chapters. I don't know)

I didn't find this book terribly useful. Most of the concepts presented in the book were common sense and did not specifically apply to business. The book centered around typical social etiquette (which certainly applies in the business world), but did not provide much business-specific guidance. I found that most of the concepts were covered in general etiquette publications. I was also disappointed to find that the book did not provide specific solutions for breaches in business etiquette. I guess I was looking for some nice catch-phrases and replies for the business user. I do think the book was simple to read, and might be a good book for newcomers to American business etiquette.

Ann Marie Sabath has a way of getting directly to the point, making this book an excellent reference for anyone wondering about the rules of etiquette in the workplace. Her book deals with the issues that most executives need to know. At a time when informality and familiarity seem to rule, Sabath's book clarifies what is appropriate for the reader's success both personally and professionally. If anyone wants to know how to "climb the slippery ladder of success", as Sabath says, just let them read this book.

I found this book very easy to use, and extremely helpful in navigating the always-changing boundaries of what is considered good business etiquette. It shows that manners in everyday business life can make the difference between average and outstanding success within your company and in the world of business in general.

As the owner of Integrity Management Solutions Group [...] this book is a great introduction to Business Etiquette, as it highlights the basics. It is not an easy book to have if you want a quick reference guide. By the time you are in the situation and need quick advice it may be too late if this is the only book you have for "quick reference" etiquette, unless one has taken the time to do their own personal tabs.

As a business executive I have interviewed scores of individuals seeking to advance their career and most of them do not know how. It is not they are lacking in education but what they do lack is the savvy on how to present themselves in business situations that highlights their best skills and attirbutes.

While Ann Marie Sabath's work is not a how to land your next job book, it is full of those important tips how to deal with some of the most sticky of work situations. The same situations that typically come up in a job interview questions when is asked how do you deal with XYZ situation and if answered wrong can prevent one from moving up the management ladder.

Further, Sabath's pointers can help one manuever through those uncomfortable situations where the boss may be looking and trying to size you up for an important project or future role in the company.

Written in a quick to read and at times witty fashion, I highly recommend this book for those starting out their business career or those who are leaving the military starting their civilian career in management.

Not an excellent guide, but I was able to get a few pointers or refreshers that help me in the workplace. Out of 101, I probably highlighted or underlined 25.

Since this author makes a living writing newspaper articles, but mainly,
doing corporate presentations, or so she says, this explains the lite-
reading aspect of the book's 191 pages, and the tendency of the author
to teach various situations of etiquette while having the readers
chuckling on and off, throughout the work. Not being an expert, some of
the advise, a few times, is questionable, especially for people at home
receiving calls from telemarketers, to demand to speak to those guys'
supervisors. Really ? Get real! Especially with sales outfits making
calls from across the planet in India, where can you find a supervisor
over there, or if you find one, who knows what the do-not-call list is,
or cares. Other situations are appropriate and interesting.

The brevity, and lite-ness of the book suggests the author mainly
benefits workers from lowering those busy-bodies blood pressure through
this etiquette lesson in major corporations, vs. training these to become
experts.

This is an easy to read booklet; I read it while waiting at the airport in Madrid to catch my flight back to the USA.

Ann Marie Sabath, like many of us Americans, knows what is right and wrong in our country 'etiquettely speaking;' however, she is presumptuous when she gives 'international' business etiquette advice.

I agree with the reviewer, who was born and raised in Hong Kong, who says that Ms. Sabath is giving etiquette advice about the Chinese without the proper knowledge of the culture. For a person to really know the etiquette of a country, he should have been born in that country and/or have lived in it for a number of years.

Being born in a country AND living in it, however, is the best way to know 'the customs and etiquette' of a particular country. Ms. Sabath should stick with 'American' business etiquette.

As a recent college graduate, I have started working for one ofthe big five public accounting firms. This book helped me tune intomy organization's business casual and e-mail culture. I especially liked the way Sabath wrote this book in a very quick and concise manner.