Chasing Cell Phone Politeness

Just back from another beeping, ringing, sing-songing business luncheon, I’m at the keyboard. What ever happened to paying attention to the ones you are with? When did everything turn into an emergency? Who is so important that they have the power to interrupt the conversation you are having over the business lunch that you – and they – chose to attend?

Just plain rude. People with and without cell phones alike fume at the interruptions caused by cell phones ringing and being answered. Leaving on a cell phone during a business meeting or luncheon appears to have these affects.

For the cell phone owner who has left the phone on: feelings of importance and status, sense of urgency, announcement of one’s presence in the meeting because everyone looks to see whose phone is ringing, and a projection of “I’m so busy, isn’t that great!”

For those who have corralled their cell phones and who don’t have them, the left-on cell phone has these affects: anger, irritation, frustration, unhappiness, distraction and an aroused desire to throw the phone out the window.

Do any of these affects feel good to you? Didn’t think so.

Solutions and corralling tactics? Show some respect and consideration. Tap into these polite uses of cell phones. 1. Consider your priorities. If you are expecting an all important call and yet having to be in a meeting at the same time, ask yourself what is most important. Identify which activity best helps you meet your goals – goals for work, life and love. Also pinpoint the time sensitivity of the call versus the meeting. Where are you most needed – in the meeting or on the phone? What amount of good can you accomplish with the cell phone on in the meeting versus what ill-will will you create? What is your priority?

2. Consider who you are trying to impress. Once you’ve figured it out, behave in a manner that lets you take care of the people who are important to you. Use the phone to build relationships rather than to destroy them.

3. Preferred cell phone options: leave the phone out of the meeting room and let it ring. Turn the phone off. Leave the phone on and change the ring to be silent, or if it REALLY is an important call change the ring to a single beep.

4. Polite cell phone answering options: don’t say a word, get up and leave the room to take the call.

5. Conduct business. Most cell phones have voicemail options. Use the voicemail to conduct business without your having to immediately answer a call. Then, during a break you can check messages and return calls.

The challenge? Without knowing what call a person is receiving, how do we really know whether the call was about life and death issues? We could keep our blood pressure lowered by giving the call-taker the benefit of the doubt. Maybe the call really is an emergency.

My vote? Use the phone as a business tool and relationship builder rather than as a relationship destroyer.

About the Author

Jana M. Kemp, founder of Meeting & Management Essentials, facilitates meetings and speaks across the country on meeting management, time management and communication skills. Boise Police Detective Mike Barker contributed to this article. Detective Barker provides the Lessons from the Force segment on Jana's Momentum™ weekly business-news-talk radio show, every Saturday at 9:00 a.m. on KBOI 670am. Reach Jana via her website janakemp.com.

jana@janakemp.com
http://www.janakemp.com