Stop Texting During Meetings. It's Rude!
Put...the BlackBerry...down. If you're texting during a meeting, you're insulting the presenter. Of course, the presenter is probably guilty of the same behavior when someone else is running the show.
That's the bottom line of a decade-long "incivility" study of 9,000 managers and workers. Writing for The New York Times, Christine Pearson notes that workers who text or e-mail during meetings suffer from the "illusion that multitasking can aid productivity."
What's more, interacting with your phone or computer while working with colleagues will likely have this result:
...if you ignore your colleagues while jabbering on your cellphone, keep others waiting for an appointment while you check your e-mail or send something electronically that should be delivered in person, some people will see you as inconsiderate.I admit it: I occasionally check my e-mail during meetings, but only because I'm bored. However, I rarely do so in social situations, like when I'm eating dinner with friends or family. And if I do, I apologize for it and explain that I'm dealing with something important (which I am).One of the most annoying examples is texting and checking e-mail while working with colleagues. Some workers would call this disruptive; others would say it is downright insulting.
What about you? Are you talking, texting, or typing when you should be listening? If so, the NYT article offers tips on how to break the habit, including:
- Keep your own use of electronic devices at a minimum when interacting with others. If you have an urgent need to use one, let others know.
- If you are on the receiving end of an electronic disappearing act and want face-to-face attention, politely ask for it.
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