Drop the Blackberry. Hands on the Table
I have a Blackberry. I love the connectivity it gives me when I am away on business. All in all it, and other e-mail and web enabled portable devices, are among the finest technologies developed in the last 20 years.
There is only one problem with these devices - the users. It almost never fails these days. In the middle of a conversation or meeting some one’s trousers or purse jingle and, irrespective of the gravity of the conversation, that person reaches for the device to check the message. Often the message is taken “under the table” in an attempt to make fellow communicants believe that the individual is still following the conversation. It seldom works. Other times, the message recipient is bold, whipping the device out openly in glorious declaration that whatever you might be saying bears no weight compared to what might pop up on the miniature screen. These actions are rude, disruptive and counterproductive.
We managed to run the industry and the world for decades without instaneous connectivity. To be sure, we could do that again, although most of us would not want to. But we don’t have to be slaves to these devices.
So, if your Blackberry/I-Phone/etc. should ring while you are talking to me, please resist the urge to answer the call or check the message unless there is a crisis in progress and the message/call is critical. I guarantee you will get a scowl from me.
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March 19th, 2009 at 6:33 am
Sometimes it happens. I am sitting in a presentation or meeting and I realize that this topic is out of my interest or I already know better about this or meeting is going to be too long and I have to finish my work before the end of the day. What I do? I feel happy if my mobile rings. I come out of the conference room, either its a call for credit card or for any insurance scheme. If mobile dosnt ring, I use my second mobile to make a call to my blackberry, and then I came out of the discussion. It dosnt hurt anyone in the meeting. It works good actually. Its a good tip for those who are really sincere to his work and always like to do something productive.
March 19th, 2009 at 8:37 am
Good for you!
zelma
March 23rd, 2009 at 8:48 am
Bill:
I couldn’t agree more - but unfortunately, I myself am sometimes guilty of checking my BB emails when I shouldn’t (including sometimes at dinner with my wife). Why do we tolerate this behaviour when no one would think of interrupting a meeting to take a call on their cell phone?
Don’t know what it is about these little devices that make us think we need to be continuously connected.
Maybe in addition to a “safety minute” before each meeting, we need to have a “BB Off” minute, and tell everyone to turn off their cell phones and other devices for the duration of the meeting.