Business etiquette revisited: New Technology

By a self-declared cell phone addict and PR type


“Sorry, I have to take this email.”

The clamor of vibrating cell phones against plastic, belt holsters and comments like this are disturbing business meetings and family dinners all across the world.

Since the rise of the cell phone in 19>>, the ways of how we do business have progressively become more and more fast paced. Contracts are settled in a matter of minutes, new sales terms negotiated in seconds and you take care of all your Christmas shopping at one easy-to-use website.

Palm Pilots, cell phones and Blackberries have become the frantic businessperson’s necessities. They crowd subways, office meetings and little league games. And we’re getting so much done, right?

At a recent Bridgestone-Firestone internal meeting a high ranking officer told his employees, “Leave all cell phones, blackberries, and palm pilots at the door as you enter. No one is more important than me right now.”

We’ve all fallen victim to disrupted conversations, meals and board meetings due to one of these efficiency improving personal devices and most of us are criminal of committing the act as well. But where do we draw the line? Who is most important? When should you turn those things off?

To help all of us businesspeople in making that life shaking decision, I’ve developed an etiquette guide to help you decide when it’s a “no business zone.”

Cell Phones

My cousin going into the sixth grade just got a cell phone. I think it’s safe to say, everyone has a cell phone except for my Greenpeace, technology-resisting sister. Let’s make a distinction here. Cell phones are not a bad thing, but as with personal gaming devices and pogo sticks, there is a time and place for everything.

I think the main misconception about cell phones is that they always have to be on. Many, like myself, rely solely on their cellular provider for any and all contact in and out of the workplace. It’s logical to always have your home phone plugged in the wall and in turn, we justify we should all have our cell phones turned on (or at least on vibrate) at all times. The distinct difference – your land line is connected to your house, your cell phone is literally fused to your hip bone.

Times may have changed but common courtesy has not:

Rule 1: When you are sleeping and/or making love, turn off your cell phone.

• Corollary 1a: Likewise, if you are engaged in dialogue, group discussion, or any other form of communication, do not answer your phone, and it’s best if it’s turned to silent (or at least muted after one pestering ringtone.) It’s rude.
  
  And like presents at Christmas and oral sex, ‘tis better to give than receive. Make someone’s day and return the call when you are actually available to give them your full attention.

Remember the beauty of the answering machine back in the early nineties? Sure, you might not get the message your great aunt died for another three hours, but when you get the message, I assure you, she will still be dead.

So what if your spouse is in the hospital and a serious decision needs to be made? Under current law, doctors are required to maintain the patient to the best of their ability until a family member can be contacted. Know that if you can’t get back to them for five hours, they will do their best to keep them alive for five hours.

What if it’s the last few words that your mother wants to say to you as she’s on her death bed, or someone close to you sees they are about to die? Even better! They can leave a message that you will cherish forever – not just a fleeting conversation that you will soon forget how their vocals ebb and flow.

But what if they’re calling for help? About to see their maker in what might be a preventable situation. First, the likelihood you can extinguish the situation is slim to none and subsequently there is an even slighter chance this will actually happen to you. Don’t worry about this stuff!

But what if it’s your boss, a new development has come up in the Morris case and she needs an answer stat. More than likely, this would happen during business hours. Typical lunches last one hour. The average human can use the restroom and get back to their desk in about three minutes and eleven seconds. You have an assistant that will be sure you get the message as soon as you return. Turn around in less than two hours is not too shabby.

But what about your kids? They’re at day care or at home with the babysitter. Do yourself a favor and hire a childcare provider that knows what to do in a crisis and will ensure your child’s safety with or without your being available for help.

Remember, this is not justification you don’t need one. If your car breaks down, you need directions or help deciding which of the two shirts you’re looking at in the store to buy your mom, these are completely legit situations (and ones in which you’re probably not in the middle of a business meeting, family dinner, etc.) to pick up the cell and dial. The moral of this story is simple – the world turned before the cell phone and it still does. You have absolutely no reason to answer it every time it rings – regardless of who it is.

The Blackberry

Geez, didn’t these come flying out of left field? Email, phone, internet and games all at your fingertips; and if you own one you become like one of Pavlov’s mice. When it vibrates, it must secrete some sort of highly concentrated soma into your finger if you pick it up and roll that little wheel on the side. People can not resist the Blackberry.

Rule 2: The Blackberry is a glorified version of passing notes in high school. It was not okay to read, write and pass notes while the teacher lectured. It is still not okay to read, write and pass notes while the teacher/your boss/your coworker/your spouse talks to you.

Several folks I work with have caught the Blackberry influenza. Again, a very useful device, but when I am talking to them about a project we are working on and that little game boy sized device vibrates, I am instantly given a nod as they roll their eyes downward and “inconspicuously” pick it up to see what email or call it is. Note: I realize you are picking it up; and you have just proven to me that whatever I have to say is of no importance to you.

That’s just bad business – not to mention crippling to your professionalism.

Like cell phones, there is a time for silence, a time to hit the “ignore” button and a time to not even touch the damn thing.

Other rules

We’ve got the overview down, but let’s just go ahead and lay down the law.

Rule 3: Turn off any and all PDAs at the dinner table.

Rule 4: It’s rude and unethical to discuss business over the phone in crowded place like elevators, subways and when you’re taking vacation in the car full of your family dying for your attention.

Rule 5: If you’re in a conference and your cell phone/PDA vibrates (because you at least did that much) do not duck and run like a Vietnam veteran towards the door. We all notice, you have disrupted the whole session. Please check the message and return the call during the break in five minutes.

Rule 6: Under no circumstance take your phone into church, the movies or a dinner party. If you feel naked without it, do us all a favor and turn it completely off.