How many times have you been in a meeting only to have a participant’s phone ring or vibrate?

This is a common occurrence and to many, this is the type of interruption that drives them nuts. While smartphones have changed our lives, mostly for the better, there are still times when we don’t seem to follow common ‘mobile etiquette’, leading to others perceiving us as rude.

Here’s six cell phone etiquette tips you should practice to ensure you show respect to your peers, and people around you while on your phone.

1. 1. Watch what you snap – Almost every phone has a camera these days, and we can’t help but take pictures of nearly everything. While it is convenient to take pictures with your phone, there are times when it’s not a good idea, such as in a meeting, for example. In general, if you are supposed to be paying attention to something, don’t take pictures.

1. 1. Indoor voices – It’s not uncommon to hear someone practically yelling into their phone on a busy street. This is often because they think that they can’t be heard by the person on the other end. The vast majority of modern phones have powerful enough microphones and noise cancelling technology to enable users to talk with an indoor voice, even while out on the busy street. If the person you’re talking to can’t hear you, try cupping your other hand over your mouth and directing the sound towards the phone.

1. 1. Darn you autocorrect! – Most phones use touchscreen keyboards as their input for text. This can be quite inaccurate, so OS developers created autocorrect, which usually picks the wrong word, leading to some potentially embarrassing situations. When typing on your phone, be sure to always read over what you have written before you hit send.

1. 1. Resist the beep – One of the more annoying things about smartphones is that every time a notification sounds people rush to check it. This can be seen as rude, especially if when you are talking with a customer your phone goes off and you cut off from them to check it. It’s a surefire way to lose the sale! When you’re in meetings, or talking with customers/employees, ignore your phone until you are free to answer/check. If you are expecting an important call, excuse yourself before turning your attention to your phone..

1. 1. Pick the right notifications – Your phone has numerous notification levels. You can set the phone to vibrate, ring, or for lights to flash, etc. If you are in a meeting, it’s best to set your phone on silent, as even vibrate is enough to distract these days. Really, the only time your phone should be on ring is when you have it in your pocket, or are in a loud location and unlikely to hear it.

1. Turn it off every now and then – smartphones bring the ability to be always connected, which can be both good and bad. Sometimes being constantly connected leads to higher stress, and increased work hours at the expense of your personal life. You shouldn’t be too afraid of spending a bit of time away from your phone every now and then. Just be sure to let people know that you won’t be answering calls or texts.

Polite use of your smartphone will go a long way toward ensuring you are seen as a person that others want to do business with. What are your etiquette rules in regards to phone use? Let us know.

If you would like to learn more about how to leverage smartphones in your business, please contact us today.