Customer Reviews

Letitia Baldrige's New Complete Guide to Executive Manners

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

This book was a disappointment in that it appears to be primarily aimed at high-level diplomats and/or very, very high level corporate people at the biggest corporations. It seemed pompous and snobbish and out of touch with real life situations outside of the diplomatic corp. I would not recommend it for the average Joe Business man who just wants to know the proper real-life etiquette in a majority of corporate environments today.

My work centers on meeting and greeting people and getting people comfortable in interacting. This book is critical for those base social skills. I use the tips, strategies and ideas for helping emerging young adults network better.

For people that think it's only for diplomats, or that it's anti woman... I couldn't disagree more. The book shows your the formality in doing proper introductions--- people can choose to customize the intro to the situation!!! It gives you a high water mark to shoot at and no one ever complains about how formal I am in presenting one person to another.

I have recommended this book on multiple occasions. People that I admire most in social circumstances execute the fundamentals taught in this book.

Think it doesn't matter how you write thank you notes or eat lunch with the boss? Think again! This book outlines the why's and how's of executive manners. At the senior level, competence is assumed. Promotions are in the details of everyday protocol. Read this book!

Ms. Baldridge provides invaluable assistance on a wide range of issues in the modern office. Concise, practical hints that help the reader avoid making those mistakes that can derail the most promising career. From office romances to writing condolence letters; from accepted social practices in other countries to dealing with discrimination in the workplace, this book covers it all. This truly is the stuff they never taught you in business school...but should have! A reference book for every office library

This book covers manners for many situations at the office, and much more. It could be useful to anyone who works in an office with other people.

It does not address certain topics such as internet messaging which is becoming more common in the office these days...but most of the general information presented can be applied to different situtations as the reader sees fit.

I will admit to not reading the updated version. However, in the last version it read, "a woman should not wear pants on the job...some men simply don't feel comfortable with a woman wearing pants; the woman may unconsciously be threatening to her male colleagues. To me, this is reason enough for female managers not to wear pants in the office."

Palleeeeeeze.

This book describes a world that most business people do not inhabit. It is stuffy and irrelevant. Business etiquette is based on business situations that constantly evolve. There is no evidence here that the authors have any idea about the reality of the work environment. Business etiquette is not about place settings at the White House or how to address diplomats when you have them over for dinner. It about putting one's associates and guests at ease when the atmosphere is social but the agenda is business. A much better book is The Etiquette Advantage by Post.

This is one of the books I recommended to my MBA students. As others have noted it may go beyond the needs of 90% of the high achievers. However, her coverage of the basics is through and very readable.

Sadly we went through several generations where manners were seen as a sign of mindless conformance rather than the foundational courtsies and respect which make life more meaningful and rewarding.

Part of the problem is that most people do not know both the importance of good manners and the essentials. In a business world increasingly diverse it is even more important.

I have also recommended the book to undergraduate students leaving the more casual west for some of the more elite east coast schools. While on campus behavior will often follow the script of Animal House, a different set of expectations may hold if they visit their friend's families in the east.


Most MBA students leave school deeply in debt, there's no use digging a deeper hole due to a lack of knowledge.

Maybe my age is showing but I found this book to be filled with common-knowledge. It was basically a primer for everything my mother ever taught me about common courtesy and manners. While I found some of the reading to be a little informative I was surprised overall that my MBA had this as required reading. If you're thinking of purchasing this and you already have a good sense of professionalism I'd save the money. Very little that stuck with me after I read this that I didn't already have a good sense of knowing.

The premise of this book is solid; but it's somewhat out of date. It appears to be a cash cow as there isn't much in the way of competition for this type of text.