Americans At Work: A Guide to the Can-Do People

by Craig Storti

Restless and driven, casual and direct - Americans are a challenge! Learn how Americans behave at work and how to deal with them.

Whether you work with Americans face-to-face, communicate with them by telephone or e-mail or interact together in a virtual team, Americans at Work reveals the subtle and the not-so-subtle aspects of American culture in the workplace.

Best-selling author Craig Storti provides historical perspectives and explanations of the six most important American cultural themes and their relevance to the

- "Land of Opportunity" (a driven people)
- "Go-for-It Mentality" (ready, fire, aim; new is better)
- "Equality for All" (but don't forget who's boss)
- "The Drive to Achieve" (nice guys finish last)
- "Live and Let Live" (do your own thing)
- "Time Matters" (obsession with efficiency).

Learn about straight talk, American style, and how Americans aren't always as direct as they say they are. Find out why Americans are deeply conflicted about they crave it but are loath to be caught craving it. See how Americans view outsiders. Gain tips for succeeding in the American work environment. Finally, get the basics of work-related conducting meetings, giving feedback, nonverbal communication, e-mail rules, gifts, taboo topics and so on.

Knowing how Americans work with each other will help you predict their reactions and, more important, their expectations of you. And if you are American, you will be better understand your own behavior and be able to work more effectively with collegues from other cultures.

Genres: Business, Nonfiction, Cultural

228 pages, Paperback

First published June 4, 2004

Reviews

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's now two decades old but it's the best description of American white collar culture that I've found. A useful study guide for people from other cultures, and Americans who haven't worked in an office before. It's heavily influenced by white male culture but that's the main legacy we have in corporate life and I've found that female-dominated office cultures don't differ too much and in any case use the elements described here as reference points.

[Kathrin · Rating 2 out of 5]

On the one hand, I feel like I am reading this book ten years too late and on the other hand, I feel like I haven't missed much since only about 50% of the content rings true to me.

Also, some of the traits that are described her has very specific to Americans seemed to me very universal.

I did like he w the book is organized... Very clearly structured, starting with the general characteristics and the historic background and then zooming in on the application in the work place.

I am not sure, who this book is meant to be for. Is it for the non-American trying to understand Americans or is it for the American trying to understand how non-Americans perceive them. I really wasn't able to figure that out.