Word: biz
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Mindful of Kyoto, the government has lately shifted the focus to cutting greenhouse gases. That gave birth to the Cool Biz policy in 2005, under which offices save energy by keeping summer temperatures at a stifling 82.4°F (28°C). To beat the heat, salarymen are told to doff their black suits in favor of light colors and open collars. The result made the Prime Minister occasionally look as if he were addressing parliament from a beach in Waikiki, but at least Cool Biz had more style than a similar Japanese idea from the 1970s: the short-sleeved business...
...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...