The main idea of Business Etiquette in Brief is to give people in the white-collar business world practical advice about how to cope with encounters between strangers as well as colleagues in a variety of situations. Sabath begins with physical presentation or image, including wardrobe and grooming, the first words one speaks to others, and suggestions about managing conversations. There are very specific tips about fabric, color, and shoes men and women should select for business attire.
Once the basic image package has been covered, the book describes office etiquette and the decorum of encounters with others, whether in first meetings, daily conversations, or special events where people "mingle" (85-6). There is also attention to telephone and correspondence etiquette. A big section is devoted to table manners, especially when dining out. It turns out that there is an order of precedence about everything from when and where to sit to what and when to order beverages and foods and what to do with cutlery. Brief chapters are also included on travel manners and rules of etiquette in foreign cultures.
The author's purpose is to provide readers with information that can do two things at once: make their behavior and speech effective from a business standpoint, and prevent them from looking like an idiot when they want to be perceived as professional. Sabath freely admits that her approach is in the form of rules not to be broken, but she is interested in practical action. That explains why she uses both symbolism (particularly a key) to highlight her "key" points and the Q&A format for most frequently asked questions about a particular topic.
The author's hypothesis is that business etiquette can be mastered if a person has an idea of what to do and when (7) and that etiquette is a feature of business success. The author cites "hard work, honesty, and good manners" as mechanisms of business success that comes from having a compe...