Class Acts: How Good Manners Create Good Relationships and Good Relationships Create Good Business (Hardcover)

by Mary Mitchell (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Those who succeed in business do so by knowing how to adapt and change along with the changing landscape of corporate life.

As you probably already know, business has evolved past the cutthroat tactics that once ruled the day. The kinder and gentler business world of today brings manners, ethics, and corporate responsibility into the workplace. The current problem is knowing how to survive and thrive in this new climate.

This book goes where no book has gone before—it links business success directly to good manners. Mary Mitchell knows and shows that what is best for any business situation is that all parties are treated with respect. This isn’t as easy to pull off as it sounds since we are all connected 24/7. It’s hard to know where the business day ends (or if it even does). Likewise business gatherings have moved from formal dining to all types of social situations from buffets to lunch at the gym after a game of handball. This means that we must be on our best behavior for every type of business situation (in and out of the office) while maintaining a professional sensibility.

With a copy of Class Acts as your guide, you will develop the mindset for civility in the workplace along with the mechanics to carry it through by learning:

· Personal accountability
· The value of forgiving, apologizing, and telling the truth
· Meeting conduct (both as an attendee and the leader)
· How to celebrate special occasions in a multicultural workplace
· Maintaining humanity in cyberspace
· That visualization and meditation enhance focus and civility
· Ways of disagreeing without being disagreeable
· That good relationships lead to good business which leads to success

Mary Mitchell is president of The Mitchell Organization, a Philadelphia-based training and consulting firm. Client service, business and personal etiquette, presentation and negotiation skills programs are custom designed and provided for top national and international corporations and professional organizations. Ms. Mitchell is the author of five previous books, including THE COMPLETE IDIOT’S GUIDE TO BUSINESS ETIQUETTE.

About the Author
Mary Mitchell is president of The Mitchell Organization, a Philadelphia-based training and consulting firm. Client service, business and personal etiquette, presentation and negotiation skills programs are custom designed and provided for top national and international corporations and professional organizations.

She has authored five previous books.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 244 pages
• Publisher: M. Evans and Company, Inc. (January 25, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0871319799
• ISBN-13: 978-0871319791
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,496,547 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Establishing of a good and profitable business climate, February 14, 2003

By	Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

Class Acts by business etiquette authority and consultant Mary Mitchell is a straightforward, "reader friendly" guide to using good manners, etiquette, and positive relationships to improve business efficiency, profitability, and the lowering of daily stress levels while on the job. From the importance of accountability, forgiveness, and trustworthiness; to improving communication skills; to handling disagreement in the most effective manner (always disagree in private if possible, and carefully watch one's tone of voice while disapproving); to coping with the challenges of cyberspace; to knowing better than to pursue a workplace romance (or if one must, to pursue it with caution and close awareness of the other party's feelings), Class Acts emphasizes that it is the creation of good and enduring relationships which, in the end, are fundamental to the establishing of a good and profitable business climate.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Class Acts -- A Boardroom to Bedroom Must Read, February 11, 2003

By	Denise Easton, ULiveandLearn (Mendenhall, PA) - See all my reviews

Class Acts is an essential book for today's personal and professional environment. The strength of the book comes from it's applicability to one's life lived in a 24/7 world. The lines between professional acts and personal acts are less clearly defined as one realizes that a "whole life" standard to behavior is the only way to conduct oneself. It is precisely this understanding of all "actions" and their impact on daily life, both on the individual and organizational level, that makes this book a boardroom to bedroom must read.

As the CEO of ULiveandLearn, an educational company, we have been involved in developing programs that offer training and continuing education programs. Often, the benchmark programs are the ones that ignite support across a broad group of users, from corporate managers to educators to community-based organizations.

We are looking forward to helping bring Class Acts live through programs that integrate the essentials of the book with case studies and programs for corporations and organizations.

The opportunity to create and sustain an environment of good manners, good relationships and good business benefits us all. Mary Mitchell clearly understands the power of her message and it's long reaching effects on everyone who cares enough to be a Class Act.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Invest in Excellence, January 29, 2003

By	Tim D from Dallas "Tim" (Dallas, TX United States) - See all my reviews

If ever there was a book written and published (thank god) that should be mandatory reading for any person starting their business career this is it. Actually, this book is useful for anyone at any stage of their career.

The simple truth of business is this: revenue is a lagging indicator...relationships are a leading one.

Mary Mitchell has touched on virtually every aspect of gaining and maintaining a competitive advantage and positive relationship through good manners and business etiquette. Do you want to know when to bring up business at a meal, how to stop a colleague from being too aggressive? Or perhaps you wonder how to deal with one who is boring, or other difficult business situations? This treasure trove of practical information even points out how to be courteous when working out at the club or on the road. This book will show you how to fight fair i.e. how to keep an important relationship from dissolving from a conflict.

Using just one of Mary's tips brought me a windfall of business and commissions, hint: write note cards.

Perhaps the nicest thing about the book is it's holistic approach to personal and professional life and the inexorable tie between the two.

Buy this book, invest in your own excellence and that of someone you care about...buy them one too.