Gadget etiquette in office meetings
The mobile phone is our all-in-one gadget. This ubiquitous device helps us keep track of everything. I personally use it for jotting down articles on the go like right now. I'm in a traffic jam, finishing off extra work. It keeps us informed in a way unimaginable two decades ago. If it could tie shoelaces and take us to the toilet, it would take over the world better than Skynet could in Terminator. It's nearly there though thanks to several 'Find the nearest toilet' apps.
While the smartphone keeps us socially connected, we don't realise it often makes us socially incompetent. Here's how.
Silence
Having your phone ring while in a board meeting discussing cost-cutting measures involving toilet tissue paper is a no-no. It's a buzzer calling everyone's attention. You want these meetings to end quickly so make sure there are no interruptions. It's plain rude. The rule is to silence it.
Buzz, buzz
You'd hate to have a fly buzzing around in front of you while people are seriously discussing serious stuff. Leaving a vibrating phone on top of a desk is just as bad. Swat it like a fly or leave it in your pocket. Only time a buzzing pone is appropriate is when there is a cat in the meeting room. Cats like buzzing phones. But that isn't a popular scenario.
But you're expecting
Urgent calls or messages? Inform the people in the meeting beforehand that you will be 'Taking a message from your minion updating the billables'. Or simply step out for a few seconds. Answering a call in the middle of a meeting and discussing arthritis medication is simply not cool. In most cases, a call or a mail can wait. Unless you're a stock broker, policeman or a drug dealer, phone calls can mostly wait a few minutes.
What if you just text?
You would think this is a surreptitious activity and no one will pay attention. No one will unless the number of attendants is small. Worse is if you yourself are heavily involved in the matter at hand. Fiddling with the Swype feature comes off as a lack of focus. While it's less rude than taking calls, it's just as distracting for everyone.
Writer is Editor of the career, tech and automobile publications of The Daily Star. He is also an entrepreneur of a baby clothing business and previously worked in advertising as a Senior Copywriter