Keep the cell phone voice down

Nobody wants to hear you argue with your significant other or talk about your drunken exploits at a party the night before. I have heard people talk about the crappy company they work for and the lousy bosses they have. For some reason people seem to zone out when they are speaking on their cell phone, it almost seems like they think they are within a “cone of silence” (yes I’m that old, I watched “Get Smart”). Not only is it inappropriate (and uncomfortable) for strangers to be listening to the intimate details of a strangers life, but they risk being overheard by the wrong set of ears. If a person starts venting loudly about their workplace, they might just be setting their head onto a chopping block. A person never knows who might be within earshot – it could just be the boss’s Sunday golf buddy.

Respect the one you’re with

If you really want to make someone feel un-important, pull out your cell phone or BlackBerry when you’re meeting with them. “I don’t care who you are; when you accept a cell-phone call in front of another individual that you are meeting with or even when someone is giving a presentation, you are stating that the person on the phone is more important,” says Carey McBeth-Cooper of Essential Etiquette. Consider this: such rude behaviour could lose you a business relationship. Switch your gadgets to silent mode or, preferably, off before entering meetings and let voicemail take over. If you’re expecting an urgent call, say so ahead of time and excuse yourself to answer it.

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