Business etiquette - cultural facts

Who makes up these rules? Do the so-called Etiquette Mavens get college degrees in Good Manners? Do they have to pass some sort of High Society test before dispensing their laws of how we should and should not act in civilization?

Perhaps it should come as no surprise that the origins of today's etiquette began in the French royal courts in the 1600s and 1700s. Under King Louis XIV, a placard (the word "etiquette" means card or placard) was devised and posted with rules for all to follow. They took manners much more seriously in those days, and people were more strict in the following of rules.

Even before Louis XIV, the first known etiquette book was written in 2400 B.C. by Ptah-hotep. Good manners have been around for a long time. It was from these origins that American etiquette grew.

The first recordings of American etiquette were made in George Washington's Rules of Civility, but the most popular "first" about manners was written by Emily Post in 1922. The self-proclaimed debutante-turned-writer published "Etiquette--In Society, In Business, In Politics, and At Home." It became a best-seller and paved the way for her successors to continue preaching good manners.

Post was succeeded by Amy Vanderbilt, who called herself a "journalist in the field of etiquette." Her contribution to American good manners was "Amy Vanderbilt's Complete Guide To Etiquette."

Soon other etiquette mavens followed, including Letitia Baldrige and Judith "Miss Manners" Martin, whose tongue-in-cheek columns led to the publishing of several books on etiquette, including "Miss Manners Guide To Domestic Tranquility", which she published in 1999.

Today, Peggy Post, the great-grand-daughter of Emily Post has also thrown her hat into the good-manner ring. Her book is called "The Etiquette Advantage in Business: Personal Skills for Professional Success", and she has branched out onto the World Wide Web, dispensing her rules of modern good behavior to anyone with a computer and a modem.

The field has also expanded beyond society manners. Today, many big businesses employ etiquette trainers whose job it is to teach good manners to executives. Etiquette trainers not only show business people how to dress and act--how to eat and converse in proper company--but they also train them how to become more successful in their companies and in the business world by providing lessons on such peripheral items as writing good business letters.

With the global society becoming much closer, executives having a background in societal and cultural differences have a much better chance not to offend as well as a greater success rate if they can demonstrate good etiquette skills. Hundreds of etiquette coaches exist in business today.

As far as having college degrees in etiquette, however, these Mavens of Manners probably lack in the sheepskin department. But, as journalists who have studied etiquette and written eloquently about the subject, these women know what they are talking about.

So, since there are any number of books written on the subject by these ladies of etiquette, there is no excuse for anyone to behave in a less-than civilized manner today. And there is definitely no excuse to neglect writing a timely thank-you note for a gift when the situation arises.

Globalization has made cross-border business deals more common than ever. But, every