Customer Reviews

The Etiquette Edge: The Unspoken Rules for Business Success

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Dr. Langford's book is an excellent guide to what should be common sense, but all too often isn't. In clear, forthright terms, she covers areas as topical as cell phone usage, casual Fridays and e-mail, along with downsizing, restructuring and making a graceful exit from a job. Courtesy is not an outmoded concept, but plays a direct and vital role in career success or failure. This book gives clear, situational advice in virtually every aspect of the business world. It would be an excellent resource for a manager to provide to his or her staff.

This book covers etiquette basics for the workplace in less than 200 pages. I've read a number of etiquette books, so I have to admit I didn't find that many new concepts in the pages. I did enjoy reading it as a quick "brush-up" on things I tend to forget, though (like not trying to finish other people's sentences!!!). The book covers most of the topics you need to know for business etiquette. A few include:

Non-verbal communication
Cursing and Language
Listening Skills
Cell phones
Email
Travel
Office Space
Gender Divide
Lunch and Socializing
Interviewing & Leaving a Job Gracefully
Confronting with Courtesy

A few topics that I found especially interesting included what to do when you friend becomes your boss and how to deliver unwelcome information. Each chapter in the book is fairly short, which means it can be read quickly to grasp main concepts, but there is not a whole lot of detail. For some readers, this may fulfill their needs just fine. The author lists a bibliography at the end for those who want to research specific topics further. This book is geared towards professional office employees (like those at major corporations), although others may find the information useful. For a book more geared towards salespeople and small business owners, Business Class: Etiquette Essentials for Success at Work may be a more appropriate choice.

Overall this book is a great place to start for learning a bit of etiquette or reminding yourself of what you should be doing. For readers seeking a detailed business etiquette book, The Etiquette Advantage in Business:Personal Skills for Professional Success (a whopping 550+ pages) provides more in-depth information.

This is a useful text if given to new young employees as required reading or to a problem employee as a wake-up call.

I don't recommend this book for an already conscientious person who wants to learn more specific points of etiquette. A guide tailored to a specific region is more useful if you'd like to know more about business protocols in different countries.

People I meet in business are often perplexed about the best way to handle many day to day interactions with their boss, their peers, their customers and even their "enemies." Dr. Beverly Langford has written a powerful book about how to act in those frequent situations where the right action is often not obvious. The book is so well organized in thirty topical chapters, I was able to skip around and read the ones that were particularly relevant to me at the time. I gave this book to my children who are just starting their careers, but I also find myself recommending it to executives who've been in the workplace for a long time--it's that helpful. It's extremely well written and is one of the most practical workplace books I've ever read. I really liked this book!

A big theme in business writing today is the importance of EQ (Emotional/Social Intelligence), the ability to perceive, assess, and manage the emotions of oneself and others. The research is clear and consistent: Good leaders and highly effective people have high EQ. Whereas, most authors deal with the importance of EQ in theory, Langford gives us an owner's manual for EQ applied and she doesn't even mention the word in the book!
This is a much needed and practical "how-to" book on working and communicating with others in the 21st Century work environment. In short, Etiquette Edge is about building and deploying the character and personal brand equity needed to succeed in today's work place.
Pithy and to the point short chapters make this book a great office "devotional" - a helpful, time-efficient way to jump start a day in the office with a relevant idea to make this day more effective. I gave each of my early-career children a copy to read with a strong suggestion that if they wanted to see a penny of their inheritance, they'd better read it!

This book seems to cover a lot of basic items. It doesn't not get very specific by providing any suggestions such as where to get a nice pen, which it recommends having. It contains a suggestion of bringing something to do while waiting for an interview, but does not provide any detail for recommended activities. The book does reference other books as good resources, which makes me feel like I should have just read those other books instead. The section on business travel is useful by providing recommendations on how to be a polite traveler such as do not wear perfume due to allergies.

I bought this book a few years ago when I was first interviewing for internships. This book teaches the essentials of etiquette in a quick and easy format. I had received this book two days before my first interview and it allowed me to "improve" myself in that short amount of time. A MUST HAVE for anyone that wants to improve themself quickly.

The book arrived in the shape the seller said it would. It arrived earlier than I thought it would.

This book defies the typical stereotype of "manners' books, by its spot on feel for workplace reality, its very practical, "why to/how to" approach, and its easy, conversational style (not to mention its easy to read size!) As an executive coach, it is the one book I pass along most frequently to clients with consistent, positive feedback.

What an outstanding guide for situations that both new and seasoned business professionals invariably encounter!

Written in an easy-to-read, no-nonsense style, this book is relevant to all professionals. Whether you need to know how to engage a peer who is now your manager, or how to deal with a sometimes unprofessional and often irritating teammate, the book is full of practical guidance and invaluable insight.