Clinton T. Greenleaf III - The Unwritten Rules of the Workplace: A Guide to Etiquette and Attire for Businessmen

CLINTON T. GREENLEAF III

Published by Emerald Book Company

Austin, TX

www.emeraldbookcompany.com

Copyright 2010 Clinton T. Greenleaf III

All rights reserved.

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Publishers Cataloging-In-Publication Data

(Prepared by The Donohue Group, Inc.)

Greenleaf, Clinton T.

The unwritten rules of the workplace : a guide to etiquette and attire for businessmen / Clinton T. Greenleaf III. -- 1st ed.

p. : ill. ; cm.

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN: 978-1-934572-56-6

1. Business etiquette. 2. Business communication. 3. Language in the workplace. 4. Grooming for men. 5. Male employees--Clothing. I.Title. HF5389 .G74 2010

395/.52 2010930288

Part of the Tree NeutralTM program, which offsets the number of trees consumed in the production and printing of this book by taking proactive steps, such as planting trees in direct proportion to the number of trees used: www.treeneutral.com

Printed in the United States of America on acid-free paper
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First Edition

Thomas Jefferson

From the first grade through high school, I attended University School, right outside Cleveland, Ohio, and I have some great memories of my time there. From my first day, in 1980, we were instructed to learn and understand the school motto: Responsibility, Loyalty, and Consideration.

At the time I had no idea of the magnitude (or the full meaning) of these three seemingly simple words, but over the twelve years I spent there and the years that followed, I learned how important they were. My experiences proved, time and time again, that these three words were the keys to proper conduct. When I put my appreciation of these words to work in the business world, I was considered a business etiquette expert by the Wall Street Journal. Since then Ive built a publishing company from the ground up, and it has become a successful, multimillion-dollar enterprise. Etiquette might not be the only reason you are hired, promoted, or are successful, but you will see in this book that it will help you get a job, develop your career, and fit well into any situation.

This book, and its previous editions, began as a collection of notes that I wrote to help a few of my friends in college get an edge on job interviews. The idea was to help young men who were smart and talented but needed some guidance with the basics of acting like a gentleman. Through no fault of their own, they had not been taught these unwritten rules and the tips that would help them abide by them successfully. At a time when many young men do not know the basics of professional appearance and conduct, those who are knowledgeable have a clear advantage. The great news is that anyone can learn how to act properly, and this book will teach you the fundamentals.

The essence of etiquette is knowing how to act properly in different situations. I look at it simply: Etiquette is a healthy mix of professionalism and personality. The best rules are the ones that build your credibility with your coworkers, clients, friends, and anyone else you come into contact with. Etiquette is knowing when to turn it on and when to turn it off. My office is now a casual work environment; we wear business casual when a client comes, and I wear a suit when I do TV. While I prefer to be comfortable in shorts and a golf shirt, I do at times need to dress up. The rules of etiquette and professional appearance dont demand that I always wear a suit, just that I do it properly in the right situations.

Over the past thirteen years, I have received many letters from men thanking me for the extra boost of confidence they got from reading and referring to earlier editions of this book before important interviews and meetings. My goal in writing The Unwritten Rules of the Workplace was to provide the rules of etiquette and proper conduct needed to survive in the business world. I hope that everyone who reads this will be more confident once armed with the necessary information to dress and act professionally, like a true gentleman.

Mark Twain

Lets face itin todays world, appearance and conduct matter. People are judged, at least initially, by the way they look. They earn their credibility based on how they act. Those who want to succeed take the time to look their best and act appropriately.

No matter your background, you can learn to look great and conduct yourself like a professional and a gentleman by reading this book. You will learn that attention to detail matters, not only in your career, but in all aspects of your life. The level of care reflected in your appearance and manners attracts positive attention and admiration, which fosters confidence. This attention to detail is a highly valued skill in the professional world and will also have a positive effect on your personal life.

Who decided that tying some fabric around your neck makes you look more serious, or that wearing shined shoes gives you the appearance of a go-getter? Research studies show that there is a strong correlation between a persons appearance and others perceptions of his professional abilities. Proper appearance also includes creating symmetry and neatness within your wardrobeits proven that a symmetrical look is appealing to most people. A well-tied tie, a properly tucked-in shirt, and well-shined shoes are a huge boost to your lookthe first impression that will remain in most peoples minds long after they meet you.