By Mary Mitchell

SEATTLE - What impact do your interpersonal skills have on your ability to be effective on your job?

Those of us dedicated to such matters have long recognised the truth in John D. Rockefeller's comment: "I will pay more for the ability to deal with people than any other skill under the sun."

Lest this scion of another century be ignored, a report by Google concurred that its most effective managers are people first, geeks second.

Google's report brought Rockefeller's words full circle.

What, specifically, does it all mean?

To this columnist, it means following the Ten Commandments of Business Behaviour. They are, I believe, worthy guidelines for anyone's career (even if I did write them myself, with apologies to the Bible).

Here goes:

The 10 commandments of business behaviour Click on thumbnail to view

The new rules of business etiquette Click on thumbnail to view