You can only imagine what the crowd looked like with heads down and hands under desk when the lights dimmed for a powerpoint presentation...
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I had driven six hours to attend a meeting and three quarters of the attendees were heads down and thumbs a going. I startled everyone by being blunt and saying that I hadn't driven all this way to stare at the top of heads (including the chairperson!)
You can only imagine what the crowd looked like with heads down and hands under desk when the lights dimmed for a powerpoint presentation...
You can only imagine what the crowd looked like with heads down and hands under desk when the lights dimmed for a powerpoint presentation...
if you can just up the presentation to their phones you would have no problem and you WOULD have their attention. You have to change with the times, dude. Just like back then the presentations were done by hand, now their done by powerpoint. Now they'll have to get upped into the smartphones or used in some Meeting app so as to keep the attention of all execs.
DUDE!!! Business etiquette is business etiquette and not subject to changing times. If you find yourself in a low paying job because you pissed off the boss, don't be shocked.
However, Charles points out the larger failing of business etiquette. We used to have fines for this. First infraction - $1, second and subsequent infractions $5.
I would reprimand the chairperson, as they were to be in charge of the meeting, and their use of a smart phone is inexcuseable.
I would reprimand the chairperson, as they were to be in charge of the meeting, and their use of a smart phone is inexcuseable.
bumper-sticker work:
"We've upped our standards; up yours!"
"We've upped our standards; up yours!"
...the context implies he's using it as shorthand for "uploaded".
Pat Paulson may have been half-joking when he ran, but he was the last candidate that actually appeared to have the interests of all the American people in mind. All the rest say they do, but what they really mean is "the people like me and the people that are giving me money". And yes, I did.
Pat Paulson may have been half-joking when he ran, but he was the last candidate that actually appeared to have the interests of all the American people in mind. All the rest say they do, but what they really mean is "the people like me and the people that are giving me money". And yes, I did.
the travesty of the ol' 2-party prank: presenting all issues as having no more than TWO sides...so that each party machine can present their adherents with 2, 3, or more steaming road-apples as 'our best, most-viable candidates'---and the voters can then 'participate in the process' (gee, thanks!) by holding their noses and choosing among well-dressed cow-pies. Compared to multi-party democracies, we have it where, after the Primaries, you need only bribe *two* campaigns to ensure having the winner owe you policy favors. If we all registered 'Independent', party machines would no longer be in the position to deliver constituencies ready to vote amongst the party's pre-chosen road-apples. Pat Paulson (and Nader) helped me deduce what it is they use to oil the Machine. I'm following, these days, the adventures of a pediatrician from Texas who gets ridiculed every time he mentions 'freedom' or 'the US Constitution'...by the party under whose banner he's presently campaigning!
It's our duty to say, "No!' to the steaming-road-apple-anointment process (refuse to register as 'R' or 'D'), or else stop complaining about the smell.
It's our duty to say, "No!' to the steaming-road-apple-anointment process (refuse to register as 'R' or 'D'), or else stop complaining about the smell.
Unfortunately, our system is not set up to support more than two parties, and I don't see it changing in my lifetime. And even if we changed the system, I don't think it would change much. 60% of South Carolinians were one-button voters (almost evenly split between R and D) in the 2010 election. That kind of stupidity is not easily challenged.
Our best bet is to get the money out. No matter what the Supremes say, money != speech.
Our best bet is to get the money out. No matter what the Supremes say, money != speech.
As a kid, I loved watching the Pat Paulson Half a Comedy Hour! I didn't get it all, but I loved it.
Are you telling me that I have screwed up my career because I use the chorus from Y.M.C.A as my ringtone?
Perhaps not. It is yet another in a long list of things that have been noticed about you. And will be used when evaluating you for a raise, or a move to a new position. Your dress, hair (style, color, length), body art (tattoos, piercings...), height, weight, how you carry yourself, how you articulate yourself, even what you drive all speak volumes to people (sometimes rightly, and sometimes wrongly). This is especially true when you interviewing or are new to a job. It is less true after you have proven yourself, but it still happens. You may get a smaller raise because unconsciously your boss thinks, 'loser' or 'hippy', whatever. When it comes time for a raise, your evaluation will be slightly skewed, a 4 instead of a 5 here or there. Then when the subjective how much comes up well they drive that 15 year old beat up pickup truck, they can get by on a 1% raise instead of 3%.
It is often not a conscious thing, but it is something nearly everyone does to some degree or another. You do it when you walk down the sidewalk you profile people from 'cute want to ask them out on a date' to, 'better cross the street, they look shifty'. Of course your profile of that person probably doesn't matter a lick to them. However, your bosses and coworkers profile of you does matter to you, whether you know it or not.
By the way, I always have my phone on silent at work, as soon as I hit the work WiFi (about half way across the parking lot), phone is set to silent and notifications from all but work email, SMS and phone calls are turned off. My ringtones tell me who is calling and no one needs to hear that at work.
It is often not a conscious thing, but it is something nearly everyone does to some degree or another. You do it when you walk down the sidewalk you profile people from 'cute want to ask them out on a date' to, 'better cross the street, they look shifty'. Of course your profile of that person probably doesn't matter a lick to them. However, your bosses and coworkers profile of you does matter to you, whether you know it or not.
By the way, I always have my phone on silent at work, as soon as I hit the work WiFi (about half way across the parking lot), phone is set to silent and notifications from all but work email, SMS and phone calls are turned off. My ringtones tell me who is calling and no one needs to hear that at work.
"Yes, it is your unalienable right to have any ring tone you want and it shouldn???t affect the way you???re perceived as a person,"
One major reason for selectable ring-tones is to allow people to express their individuality, so why shouldn't their choice affect the way others regard that individual?
One major reason for selectable ring-tones is to allow people to express their individuality, so why shouldn't their choice affect the way others regard that individual?
I have my phone set on "vibrate". I will notice a "ring" but I doubt that anyone else will. If I'm in a meeting, or in church my callers will just have to wait until I can return their calls! If I'm waiting for an important call, I'll "step outside" when my phone rings. If a meeting is really important, my caller will just have to wait until I can properly return calls
the point Toni makes about people judging you for your case, wallpaper, ringtone, whathaveyou rings incredibly true despite how much we'd like to think otherwise. This little gem isn't limited to just your phone - oh no. You will get judged on your clothes, your hair, the way you speak, the way you take notes, the perfume you wear......everything.
Us humans are a judgmental lot and although we shouldn't judge any book by it's cover we often do - even when we're staunch supporters of the point of view that says you shouldn't. For instance I have failed at least one interview because I have a bushy ponytail. My interviewer couldn't hide her disgust. Not that long hair stops me being good at my job but still....
Meeting attendees beware - pay attention to the meeting and don't give the fashion police any reason to target you
Us humans are a judgmental lot and although we shouldn't judge any book by it's cover we often do - even when we're staunch supporters of the point of view that says you shouldn't. For instance I have failed at least one interview because I have a bushy ponytail. My interviewer couldn't hide her disgust. Not that long hair stops me being good at my job but still....
Meeting attendees beware - pay attention to the meeting and don't give the fashion police any reason to target you
Most scented products make me feel sick. It's not rational to hate you for wearing them (how would you know? why would you care?) but I do.
not working on a team that views you as the 'company freak' for whatever reason(especially if you're doing their heavy lifting/thinking)....at least that's my experience. If they can't abide boutique talent, then they should make do with 'off-the-rack'!
My brother had a pony-tail, cut it off at work and got 400 quid for charity. Of-course, you are right. People don't just judge you on your smart phone but on your general appearance, behaviour and attitude. After that several opportunities opened up for my brother.
I agree with the first point and only with it. the other 2 a really nonesens. Eventhough I think exec should only ever have their phones on vibrate, judging bya ring tone sounds foolish. last the second point is really wrong, I give smartphones to my employees and expect them to use them for everything, no matter how long or how important the communication is
I work in a law firm. Would you want to get an email from your attorney that read like this?
"Hi, b 4 u sgn doc pls cl, !!!
Sent from my iphone"
Now if you want to take the time to format and proofread the email from your phone that is fine.
"Mr. Doe,
Please contact me before you sign this agreement, I have some issues with it and would like to see some minor revisions made to better secure your position.
Very truly yours,
...
"
What the author is saying is that it is wrong to use 'sending from my iphone' as an excuse for poor grammar and communication skills.
The same with number 3. Would you take someone seriously if they tried to rob you with a bag of twizzlers? But if the put a .357 to your head, you will pay attention. Yes an extreme example, but you are judged by that phone cover, the phone, ringtone, how well you communicate...
"Hi, b 4 u sgn doc pls cl, !!!
Sent from my iphone"
Now if you want to take the time to format and proofread the email from your phone that is fine.
"Mr. Doe,
Please contact me before you sign this agreement, I have some issues with it and would like to see some minor revisions made to better secure your position.
Very truly yours,
...
"
What the author is saying is that it is wrong to use 'sending from my iphone' as an excuse for poor grammar and communication skills.
The same with number 3. Would you take someone seriously if they tried to rob you with a bag of twizzlers? But if the put a .357 to your head, you will pay attention. Yes an extreme example, but you are judged by that phone cover, the phone, ringtone, how well you communicate...
While it's great that you expect your people to fully use their smartphones you're in the minority. Better to learn about the annoying perceptions here than the hard way, or worse - never figure out why you're going nowhere professionally.
Not only will people judge you negatively, but they will also not tell you they are doing so. And with so many Aspergerish IT techs out there articles like this that put the issue in black and white and encourage discussion are quite necessary.
Thanks for a great article!
Not only will people judge you negatively, but they will also not tell you they are doing so. And with so many Aspergerish IT techs out there articles like this that put the issue in black and white and encourage discussion are quite necessary.
Thanks for a great article!
Just as there are experts who judge your personality from your handwriting, one of the 21st century equivalents (handwriting - what is that?) is the ring tone.
For my sins, I spent ages picking a ring tone - I found one that starts off quietly and then builds up. It is an upbeat one and one unlikely to be used by anyone else and hopefully will not offend anyone, regardless of their musical taste. And for the true afficiandos who are old enough to recognise the tune, if they know the name, it is appropriate - Jean-Michel Jarre's "Rendezvous".
Goodness knows what a psychologist would make of this. However, not many people hear it because (a) I use my mobile sparingly and (b) I have it on silent in meetings unless there is a truly compelling reason e.g. I am expecting a call relevant to the meeting I am in (which is rare).
For my sins, I spent ages picking a ring tone - I found one that starts off quietly and then builds up. It is an upbeat one and one unlikely to be used by anyone else and hopefully will not offend anyone, regardless of their musical taste. And for the true afficiandos who are old enough to recognise the tune, if they know the name, it is appropriate - Jean-Michel Jarre's "Rendezvous".
Goodness knows what a psychologist would make of this. However, not many people hear it because (a) I use my mobile sparingly and (b) I have it on silent in meetings unless there is a truly compelling reason e.g. I am expecting a call relevant to the meeting I am in (which is rare).
is one of the settings on my phone. I don't have to change it for meetings the phone does it for me. I always wondered why other phones didn't have this setting.
I use "fanfare for the common man" as my ringtone (not the ELP version) thinking of changing to the intro to tubular bells by Mike Oldfield
I've tried several myself, but found that I was missing more calls than not because I just didn't hear them over the incidental noise, either in the stores or in the van.
The only ringtone I've found that cuts through everything is an old-fashioned two-tone doorbell: ding-dong! Gets my attention every time.
The only ringtone I've found that cuts through everything is an old-fashioned two-tone doorbell: ding-dong! Gets my attention every time.
....and you'll see how smartphones will be very essential, and it will be professionalism on a new level. You can't keep denying that it will not happen. If the Chairperson of a poster had HIS head down texting, who's to say it will not happen in the near future. At my job it's not interfering with what I do because it's not a factory, so I doubt that it will thwart my career anytime soon. Although the older people at my job might not have their heads down, most of the rest of the workers do and it will get around to that point. I wouldn't count it out.
If the chairperson and everyone at the meeting have their heads down, texting, they are wasting the time of everyone who attends. If the chairperson and most of the meeting participants are more interested in their electronic communications than with the very real people present, they should do everyone a favor, forgo the meeting, and send their communications electronically. Otherwise, they ARE rude, and have no consideration for others.
BTW, I am an "older" person. I am used to dealing with human beings who interact with each other face-to-face. Hiding behind one's electronic gadgets might insulate one from the real world, but there are still human beings at the end of those gadgets.
It seems to me that too many people don't want to engage with real human beings anymore. And then they wonder why their relationships with their partners, family, friends, and co-workers are a mess.
BTW, I am an "older" person. I am used to dealing with human beings who interact with each other face-to-face. Hiding behind one's electronic gadgets might insulate one from the real world, but there are still human beings at the end of those gadgets.
It seems to me that too many people don't want to engage with real human beings anymore. And then they wonder why their relationships with their partners, family, friends, and co-workers are a mess.
Yes I can imagine that future generations will forego meetings and instead have texting jamborees... but except for saving meeting room space and travel time, how will efficient communication happen? I've seen chat rooms, they are most efficient at creating cacophonous get togethers.
as for my ringtone, it's Daftpunk which is Electronica and has no offensive expletives that I can think off, just sounds coming out and most people don't listen to Electronica. Electronica might mean that I have an open mind towards music and life itself, 
My co-worker(who's a total air-head) does sport a "Hello Kitty" case on her smartphone, LMAO!!!
In a quiet meeting even a vibrating phone can really offend, so to be safe I often power right off as assign of respect.
Once I was a little late doing so, and the power-down chime [can that disabled on a Galaxy9000S?], went off just as the opening meeting dedication was being said. No amount of aplogies can fix that - I just hope that those present knew the turn-off tone terrors and gave me the benefit of the doubt !
Yes we all judge, but that doesn't stop me choosing a bright cerise phone back cover which makes my phone hard to loose or mix up. Trouble is, everyone gives me grief for having a pink phone!
Ring tones that start suddenly at top volume are extremely rude and thoughtless, so well done on the Jean Michelle Jarre choice.. (saw him live at Sun City in '84) that's 1984 for you young 'uns
[Carefully proof reads iPad-typed post before posting;)]
Once I was a little late doing so, and the power-down chime [can that disabled on a Galaxy9000S?], went off just as the opening meeting dedication was being said. No amount of aplogies can fix that - I just hope that those present knew the turn-off tone terrors and gave me the benefit of the doubt !
Yes we all judge, but that doesn't stop me choosing a bright cerise phone back cover which makes my phone hard to loose or mix up. Trouble is, everyone gives me grief for having a pink phone!
Ring tones that start suddenly at top volume are extremely rude and thoughtless, so well done on the Jean Michelle Jarre choice.. (saw him live at Sun City in '84) that's 1984 for you young 'uns
[Carefully proof reads iPad-typed post before posting;)]
First to Charles, well done, more people should do that, particularly the Head of the Meeting.
Second - I think this article should perhaps have differentiated between a Company device and a personal device. In my view, personal phones should have very limited use in the workplace and never in meetings.
Second - I think this article should perhaps have differentiated between a Company device and a personal device. In my view, personal phones should have very limited use in the workplace and never in meetings.
is my company device. ;^) I am expected to be available anytime anywhere for any reason for quite a number of businesses I work with. My employer knows I run my own business on the side and has no problem with it.
That said, I am very careful how I handle that cell phone at a meeting or at work for that matter. Always on vibrate and normally in my shirt pocket so I can discretely read an email, or see who is calling and decide if needed to excuse myself to take the call or respond.
As others have said it is very rude to put your phone over the people sitting in front of you. If you need to do that there is a right way and a wrong way to do it.
That said, I am very careful how I handle that cell phone at a meeting or at work for that matter. Always on vibrate and normally in my shirt pocket so I can discretely read an email, or see who is calling and decide if needed to excuse myself to take the call or respond.
As others have said it is very rude to put your phone over the people sitting in front of you. If you need to do that there is a right way and a wrong way to do it.
I just finished a continuing ed class where about half the people were texting and emailing constantly. It was rude and inconsiderate of the others in the class distracted by their constant grabbing for their phones. It is already bad enough that we text and email in the car (not to mention everyone that drives with a phone glued to their ear). In Europe, it has been illegal to use a cell phone in a car for over a decade.
Let's get a grip on the need for instant communication. Are we driven so much that we have to be tethered to our devices every second of the day? Productivity experts have proven over and over again that multi-tasking is inefficient and counter productive. Pay attention in class, at meetings and at a client's office. My phone goes in my pocket on vibrate as soon as I walk in the door to a client's office only to be used to contact support, a vendor or to access my remote files. My focus is on the client. I wouldn't have a need for the phone otherwise.
Let's get a grip on the need for instant communication. Are we driven so much that we have to be tethered to our devices every second of the day? Productivity experts have proven over and over again that multi-tasking is inefficient and counter productive. Pay attention in class, at meetings and at a client's office. My phone goes in my pocket on vibrate as soon as I walk in the door to a client's office only to be used to contact support, a vendor or to access my remote files. My focus is on the client. I wouldn't have a need for the phone otherwise.
When I'm teaching a class at work, I start off by stating that all phones should be off, and if anyone's phone rings, or they are on their phone, or not paying attention, they get an incomplete immediately and will have to leave the class. I also report the incomplete to their manager.
The students in my classes leave with a better understanding of the material than the students in the classes where the instructor doesn't kick them out.
The students in my classes leave with a better understanding of the material than the students in the classes where the instructor doesn't kick them out.
you would want to set such rules. So many people are so inconsiderate, so tied to their phone, and email and texting that nothing else much matters. Also for probably 99% of your students that is the right answer.
As I said before, I CAN NOT turn off my phone due to my job. I am at the top of several call lists for IT emergencies and in more than one case for building emergencies.
I can and would set the phone to vibrate. I would turn off email, and SMS notifications, but I have to be accessible by phone 24x7x365. (and yes I did get a call from the fire alarm company on Christmas day (burst pipe)). To have not answered the call would have resulted in more damage to the building and equipment. As a matter of fact that number is set to over-ride the silent setting and it is a siren. Typically when that call comes in I am out the door as I answer.
So as is normally the case there is no one size fits all answer. Though as I stated way too many people are way too tied to their phone / tablet / computer.
As I said before, I CAN NOT turn off my phone due to my job. I am at the top of several call lists for IT emergencies and in more than one case for building emergencies.
I can and would set the phone to vibrate. I would turn off email, and SMS notifications, but I have to be accessible by phone 24x7x365. (and yes I did get a call from the fire alarm company on Christmas day (burst pipe)). To have not answered the call would have resulted in more damage to the building and equipment. As a matter of fact that number is set to over-ride the silent setting and it is a siren. Typically when that call comes in I am out the door as I answer.
So as is normally the case there is no one size fits all answer. Though as I stated way too many people are way too tied to their phone / tablet / computer.
In that case, it would be prudent to notify the instructor ahead of time. The point is that when I've called people out, not one single call or text has been due to anything work related. It's always been personal texts or calls.
That is a perfectly sane and appropriate guideline.
For all the good that mobile devices have brought us, they have visited bad things upon us as well. If I had a nickel for every time a customer answered their cell phone while I was helping them, I would have retired a year ago. And I mean picking up their call, turning their back on you, and becoming engrossed in their conversation without so much as excusing themselves. Mobile devices have gone a long way to deteriorating the public's sense of common courtesy, which was never very common to begin with.
When someone makes the effort to teach you something and you are not engrossed in what they are telling you, you do them the great dis-service of wasting their precious time and energy.
For all the good that mobile devices have brought us, they have visited bad things upon us as well. If I had a nickel for every time a customer answered their cell phone while I was helping them, I would have retired a year ago. And I mean picking up their call, turning their back on you, and becoming engrossed in their conversation without so much as excusing themselves. Mobile devices have gone a long way to deteriorating the public's sense of common courtesy, which was never very common to begin with.
When someone makes the effort to teach you something and you are not engrossed in what they are telling you, you do them the great dis-service of wasting their precious time and energy.
1. Announce at the beginning of the meeting that it will be a cell-free zone for the duration and that anyone who is anticipating an emergency is excused.
2. Get a cell phone & beeper jammer and turn it on at the beginning of the meeting.
3. Once the meeting begins, the doors are locked so no one can get back in if they step out.
2. Get a cell phone & beeper jammer and turn it on at the beginning of the meeting.
3. Once the meeting begins, the doors are locked so no one can get back in if they step out.
There Fixed that for ya!
Seriously, Number 2 on your list is not legal (at least in the US)! You can goto jail for that. In fact I believe, at least in the US, it is illegal to own a cell phone jammer.
#1, OK, I am not anticipating an emergency (and in all likely hood my phone would not ring), but as stated elsewhere I am at the top of several call lists and must be accessible 24x7x365 (yes even on vacation). While I respect that you are leading a meeting or teaching... and while I would turn off SMS notifications and email notifications. I can not turn off the cell phone, I must be available.
3. I feel sorry for anyone who has a bathroom emergency then.
Seriously, Number 2 on your list is not legal (at least in the US)! You can goto jail for that. In fact I believe, at least in the US, it is illegal to own a cell phone jammer.
#1, OK, I am not anticipating an emergency (and in all likely hood my phone would not ring), but as stated elsewhere I am at the top of several call lists and must be accessible 24x7x365 (yes even on vacation). While I respect that you are leading a meeting or teaching... and while I would turn off SMS notifications and email notifications. I can not turn off the cell phone, I must be available.
3. I feel sorry for anyone who has a bathroom emergency then.
Our division Director and CIO have made the smartphone use a capital offense in our DOD division. Violations are viewed as insubordination and can end or at least detour a career on first offense. Using a cell device of any kind while driving on base revokes driving privileges for two years, first offense, no appeals. Cell phones are the anti-Christ it seems. As a motorcyclist, I agree.
The business culture is definately changing. As short as 3 years ago, my organization was fighting tooth and nail again allowing anything other than Blackberry devices on the corporate network. Now, Blackberry devices are being dropped like "hot cakes" as everyone changes to droids and iPhones.
I have monitoring alerts where servers send email and text messages to my mobile device when problems occur.
On the flip side, so many people are coming to meeting with laptops and smart phones that my organization has started to have a no-laptop policy for meeting attendees due to the constant "tap-tap-tap-tap" from all of the people doing "other business" during meetings. If you are on your smart phone or laptop during a meeting with someone, it hints of disrespect in the same way as someone watching T.V. as you are talking to them.
I have monitoring alerts where servers send email and text messages to my mobile device when problems occur.
On the flip side, so many people are coming to meeting with laptops and smart phones that my organization has started to have a no-laptop policy for meeting attendees due to the constant "tap-tap-tap-tap" from all of the people doing "other business" during meetings. If you are on your smart phone or laptop during a meeting with someone, it hints of disrespect in the same way as someone watching T.V. as you are talking to them.
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