Foreword xiii -- Dr. Sorel Reisman -- Guest Introduction i xv -- Dr. Simon Y. Liu -- Guest Introduction ii xvii -- Dr. Arnold "Jay" Bragg -- Guest Introduction iii xix -- Frank E. Ferrante -- Preface xxi -- Acknowledgments xxiii -- About the Author xxv -- Introduction and Summary 1 -- Engineers Are Potentially Better Positioned as Executives, 1 -- Categorization of Smart Soft Skills, 2 -- Rules for Mastering Smart Soft Skills, 3 -- Relationships among the Soft Skills, 8 -- PART ONE: Communications: The Absolutely Necessary -- Chapter 1 Communications Smart 13 -- Rule 1: Being always ready for elevator pitches/speeches, 14 -- Rule 2: Mastering a presentation by mastering the onset, 16 -- Rule 3: Using three diagrams to simplify complexity, 18 -- Rule 4: Sizing up and resonating with the audience, 20 -- Rule 5: Being careful of careless comments, 23 -- Rule 6: Using plain language, 24 -- Rule 7: Using jokes and self-deprecating humor, 26 -- PART TWO: Dealing with People: The Essential -- Chapter 2 People Smart 31 -- Rule 1: Getting accepted by accepting others fi rst, 32 -- Rule 2: Winning by understanding both ourselves and our counterparts, 34 -- Rule 3: Being aggressive by being nonaggressive, 36 -- Rule 4: Gaining by giving, 38 -- Rule 5: Successful networking by networking less, 41 -- Rule 6: Being heard by listening, 46 -- Chapter 3 Marketing Smart 49 -- Rule 1: Sizing up and resonating with our "customers", 51 -- Rule 2: Putting a positive spin on our "product", 53 -- Rule 3: Making a convincing presentation with a well-crafted presentation, 53 -- Rule 4: Inciting enthusiasm with enthusiasm, 54 -- A Marketing Role Model: Steve Jobs (and His Embodiment, Apple), 55 -- PART THREE: Dealing with the Self: The Basic -- Chapter 4 Work Smart 59 -- Rule 1: Achieving outstanding results by not seeking perfection, 60 -- Rule 2: Avoiding blunders of overconfi dence, 62 -- Rule 3: Focusing on self-examination, not on blaming others, when things gone awry, 63 -- Chapter 5 Time Smart 65.

Rule 1: Investing time with the same zeal as venture capitalists investing money, 66 -- Rule 2: Killing two birds with one stone, 68 -- Rule 3: Minding ROI, 70 -- Rule 4: Making nonproductive time productive, 71 -- Rule 5: Turning spare time into opportunities, 73 -- Rule 6: Keeping the mind sharp by taking catnaps, 74 -- Chapter 6 Career Smart 77 -- Rule 1: Opting to be a big fi sh in a small pond, 78 -- Rule 2: Hopping to a more opportune pond at opportune moments, 80 -- Rule 3: Never polishing a sneaker, 84 -- Rule 4: Making a good lasting impression by making a good first impression, 86 -- PART FOUR: Dealing with the Boss: Earning Trust and Recognition -- Chapter 7 Job-Interview Smart 89 -- Rule 1: Being well prepared by collecting relevant information, 90 -- Rule 2: Putting a positive spin on our qualifi cations, 91 -- Rule 3: Preparing targeted elevator pitches/speeches, 91 -- Rule 4: Sizing up and resonating with the interviewer, 92 -- Rule 5: Winning interviewers' confi dence in us by exhibiting confidence, 93 -- Rule 6: Avoiding gaffes by avoiding overconfi dence, 93 -- Stories of Failed Interviews, 93 -- A Successful Interview Story, 98 -- Chapter 8 Boss Smart 101 -- Rule 1: Winning trust by showing loyalty, 102 -- Rule 2: Gaining gratitude by sharing credit and taking blame, 104 -- Rule 3: Being astute by watching for nuances, 105 -- Rule 4: Being proactive and farsighted, 107 -- Rule 5: Showing enthusiasm for challenging assignments, 108 -- PART FIVE: Dealing with Staff: Inspiring Loyalty and Productivity -- Chapter 9 Motivating Smart 111 -- Rule 1: Winning loyalty by being loyal, 112 -- Rule 2: Getting credit by not taking credit, 114 -- Rule 3: Motivating by complimenting, 115 -- Chapter 10 Delegating Smart 117 -- Rule 1: Getting more done by doing less, 118 -- Rule 2: Delegating successfully by matching tasks with staff, 119 -- Rule 3: Making controversial decisions by not making them, 122 -- PART SIX: Being Visionary: Leading to the C-Suite -- Chapter 11 Beyond the Box 127.

Rule 1: Examining the big picture to identify opportunities, 128 -- Rule 2: Forming a visionary plan, 131 -- Rule 3: Marketing the vision, 131 -- Successful Fast-Tracking Stories, 132 -- Final Thoughts 137 -- The Book's Objective, 137 -- "Soft Skills" and "Rules" Outside the Scope of This Book, 137 -- High Achievers' Soft Skills, 139 -- Personal Career Goals, 140 -- Appendix Tables for Principles, Strategies, and Rules 141 -- Table A.1 Principles and Strategies, 141 -- Table A.2 Communications Smart, 142 -- Table A.3 People Smart, 143 -- Table A.4 Marketing Smart, 144 -- Table A.5 Work Smart, 145 -- Table A.6 Time Smart, 146 -- Table A.7 Career Smart, 146 -- Table A.8 Job-Interview Smart, 147 -- Table A.9 Boss Smart, 148 -- Table A.10 Motivating Smart, 149 -- Table A.11 Delegating Smart, 149 -- Table A.12 Beyond the Box, 150 -- Abbreviations 151 -- Index 153.