Word: biz
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Dates: during 2000-2009
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Pachter briefs us on one of the burning issues in Biz Et: Is it appropriate to say thank you with an e-mail? "I've lessened my stance on it, as long as it's not for a gift," she announces. "We've become such an immediate society. When you send a thank-you note, it could take three, four, five days to get there. People start thinking, Isn't this person going to acknowledge it?" I lean forward as Pachter talks about what to eat at a business meal in a restaurant. "Order what's easy...
...Penn Club in midtown Manhattan, waiting to hear Post, the great-grandson of Emily, the etiquette pioneer. Post is turned out in corporate splendor--a sharp, dark gray suit. His tone is impassioned, as urgent as a preacher's. His message: Etiquette builds better relationships. Boiled down, he says, Biz Et has three aims: "Think before acting, make choices that build relationships, and do it sincerely." The well-tailored young business crowd pays rapt attention. They are the Rutgers pharmacy students fast-forwarded five or 10 years...
...down to brass tacks--e-mail etiquette, a constant Biz Et pet peeve. "E-mails are public communications," cautions Post. "Murphy's Law is going to get you every time. E-mails get out." Ergo, don't send private messages. Don't flame a recipient; let your grievances simmer. Be careful about your grammar and word choice. Always proofread your messages carefully. Avoid digital slang like bcz; emoticons like :-) are :/). If you're not sure how formal to be, use an honorific like Mr. or Ms. until told to do otherwise...
Name brands. Status symbols. Is that evil? Is that loathsome? Nope. We are talking about getting ahead here. Pachter and her fellow practitioners are offering Biz Et as a path to move you up the business social ladder. At least it's democratic. You don't need an M.B.A. to behave like a businessperson...
...final round, Pachter and I go to the Fountain, an elegant, chandeliered restaurant at the Four Seasons Hotel in Philly. I'm daydreaming about the Coach bag I'm going to buy. I order fish, and I know exactly which fork to select. I'm a Biz Et grad, after all. Then as I continue my witty repartee, I lean on my bread dish, sending the butter knife clattering to the floor. We both burst out laughing...