| What would we do without our cell phones? Wow, | | | | beeps - or in some cases, symphonies. Odds are |
| there's a scary question. It's hard to imagine a | | | | you're annoying the heck out of someone else in |
| world without them. But cell phones, connected as | | | | the room, namely, the person sitting two feet |
| they may keep us, seem to have an amazing | | | | across the table. Most cell phones have buttons |
| power to disturb and trump face to face | | | | on the outside that double as ring silencers. Use |
| interaction. For example, why is it that during a | | | | 'em. Consult your manual and learn how to quickly |
| meal or a meeting, people insist on taking every | | | | silence your phone while it's still in your pocket. If |
| call? Even worse, just let the phone ring? They | | | | you happen to sport the Clint Eastwood Quick |
| forget all about the person across the table as if | | | | Draw Cell Phone Holster, great! Silencing should be |
| they were invisible!This violates the golden rule of | | | | even easier. No excuses.DO...Turn It Off |
| interpersonal communication, which is to make the | | | | A fool-proof solution to cell phone interruption is |
| other person feel like the most important person | | | | best personified by the words of Mr. Miyagi from |
| in the world.The following is a list of cell phone do's | | | | The Karate Kid II. He said, "The best way to |
| and don'ts that will help you avoid embarrassing | | | | block a punch is to not be there." In other words, |
| yourself while still honoring the person across the | | | | just turn your phone off. This is a great way to |
| table. (This information is NOT found in the 147 | | | | avoid incoming calls or the temptation to make |
| page Sprint PCS handbook.) Whether you're at | | | | outgoing calls.DO NOT...Insult the Absent |
| lunch or in a one-on-one meeting, use these | | | | Some people answer their phones during a |
| etiquette tips to combat even the most enticing | | | | meeting or meal and try to compensate for their |
| barriers that stand in your way of being an | | | | rudeness by insulting the person on the other line |
| effective communicator.DO...Be Subtle Yet | | | | - as if this makes up for it. They roll their eyes. |
| Accessible | | | | They give you the "just a minute" index finger. |
| The three possible locations to keep your phone | | | | They impatiently bob their head back and forth to |
| are: bag, belt or pocket. Many people chose to | | | | the rhythm of their boring conversation while |
| keep cell phones in their bags because of | | | | forming their non-phone hand into the "Quack |
| pocket-less wardrobes. If this is the case for you, | | | | Quack" gesture which symbolizes someone on |
| be sure to choose a vibrating or single beep ring | | | | the other line who won't shut up. Meanwhile you're |
| that is audible, yet minimal so it doesn't ring seven | | | | sitting there like an idiot, feeling bad for the |
| times while you search through your bag.Pockets | | | | person on the other end of the phone, deciding |
| and belt clips are the most efficient places to | | | | whether or not you should have another |
| keep your phone because you are able to answer | | | | roll.DO...Wait for the Right Time |
| the ringer right away. Also you can silence the | | | | The best time to check missed calls that you |
| ringer right away. Remember, the last thing your | | | | politely silenced is when you or your colleague is |
| friend or colleague wants to hear during the | | | | away from the table. This will give you enough |
| meeting is an annoying MIDI version of | | | | time to see what you missed, and if need be - |
| Beethoven's 9th piercing his ears.DO NOT...Lay | | | | return an emergency call. And if you must return |
| Your Phone on the Table | | | | the call immediately, don't do it at the table. |
| The moment you sit down to lunch with | | | | Politely say, "Please excuse me for a minute, but |
| someone, what's the first thing you do? Check | | | | I have to take this call."Some sneaky people - my |
| out the menu? Take a sip of water? Unfold your | | | | last date for example - pretend to use the |
| napkin? If you're like me, you succumb to the | | | | bathroom for the sole purpose of making a phone |
| power of the almighty carbohydrate and go to | | | | call. This is an effective technique, but be careful. |
| town on the rolls.But imagine this: you sit down to | | | | If you've had a few glasses of water, ten |
| eat only to watch the person across the table | | | | minutes later when you really do have to go, you'll |
| reach into her pocket, grab her cell phone, and | | | | turn into "The Boy Who Cried Hello."DO |
| smack it right down next to the salt shaker. | | | | NOT...Debate the Caller ID |
| Ouch.Does that mean she has an emergency call | | | | Nothing is more frustrating than to be on the |
| coming in? Probably not. It sounds more like, as | | | | other end of the "Caller ID Debate." If you're not |
| Jerry Seinfeld says, "I have 62 other people on | | | | familiar with this atrocity, here are the four steps. |
| speed dial that I could call if I wanted to; so you | | | | (1) They give you the "just a minute" index finger, |
| better be interesting." That is not the way to | | | | (2) They check their caller ID, (3) They tilt their |
| make someone feel important.DO...Take | | | | head and stare at the phone for 2-5 seconds, and |
| Emergencies | | | | (4) They make a decision to answer the call or |
| If you know ahead of time that an incoming call | | | | return to your conversation. This is terribly |
| is a business or personal emergency, answer it. | | | | uncomfortable. You actually watch your friend (?) |
| This is what cell phones are for. But other than an | | | | decide whether or not there's someone else she'd |
| emergency message or a call that directly affects | | | | rather talk to. Ouch.The Bottom Line |
| all people the conversation at hand, there's | | | | Cell phones have become a primary form of |
| nobody calling you that can't wait an hour for you | | | | communication. In fact, manufacturers will ship |
| to call him back. In the history of cell phones, | | | | 585 million phones in 2004, according to a study |
| nobody has ever said, "You were in a meeting?! | | | | from market watcher Strategy Analytics. But |
| And THEN you called me back?! How rude!"DO | | | | with every phone shipped comes a coefficient of |
| NOT...Wear Phone Accessories During the Meeting | | | | frustration caused by improper etiquette. Show |
| | | | consideration for the person joining you and be |
| If you sit through an entire meeting wearing an | | | | mindful of ringers, accessories and incoming calls. |
| earpiece, headset or any other | | | | And if you use your cell phone at the right time |
| ssory, you should be ashamed of yourself. That's | | | | for the right reason, you will honor your company |
| like taking your spouse to a singles bar!Nonverbal | | | | as an effective communicator.Remember: don't |
| communication speaks before you do. It accounts | | | | incur the opportunity cost of cell phone |
| for 93% of your communication. So, along with | | | | convenience at the expense of someone sitting |
| eye contact, smiling and open body language - | | | | right across the table. You're sitting down with |
| involvement shields like cell phone headsets can | | | | him. Talk to HIM!© 2005 All Rights |
| nonverbally send the wrong message, for | | | | Reserved.Scott Ginsberg is a professional |
| example: "Please anticipate our meeting being | | | | speaker, "The World's Foremost Expert on |
| interrupted by somebody more important than | | | | Nametags" and the author of HELLO my name is |
| you."DO NOT...Let Your Phone Ring Twelve Times | | | | Scott and The Power of Approachability. He helps |
| | | | people MAXIMIZE their approachability and |
| Especially if your cell phone ring is audible from | | | | become UNFORGETTABLE communicators - one |
| Jupiter, always silence the ringer after three | | | | conversation at a time. |