August 13th, 2014
The dot com boom of the late 90’s created a surge in the use of the internet. The cell phone explosion brought the internet to the handheld, and social media has ushered in a new era of connected activities. Smartphones officially outnumber basic phones, and have become an ingrained part of daily life. However, there are those who abuse more liberal policies by poor etiquette. Here are a few tips to ensure you’re using your cell phone in an appropriate manner.
1. Never do personal activities on company time.
During lunch and breaks, using your phone is perfectly acceptable. However, Facebooking, playing games or texting during work is a quick way to show employers that you don’t take your job seriously. There are different exceptions if you’re using your phone specifically for a work purpose, but this still is a line worth remembering.
2. Never use your phone – including for work purposes – while having any sort of in-person conversation. This is a very common oversight, especially among the millennial generation. Solid communication begins and ends with eye contact. Make it frequently, listen sincerely, and keep the phone at bay. If it’s an emergency, excuse yourself. Otherwise, it can wait.
3. Keep your phone on vibrate.
The common response to this suggestion is “I won’t be able to hear it ring,” but after a few days on vibrate, workers learn to hear or feel it when it goes off – even though the ringer isn’t on. This is especially true if it remains on a table or another hard surface.
4. Unwind daily.
One of the biggest problems with personal devices is that it can pervade every social setting, weakening interpersonal skills. Take some time each day to spend with people around you devoid of tech gadgets. While this isn’t “etiquette” per se, it will help you remain in connection with those around you and build people skills.
Tech etiquette is often lost in a busy workplace, but this can cause disruptions and poor communication. Electronic manners are just as important in a workplace as respect and fundamental understanding of other’s expectations.
At PrideStaff in Fort Lauderdale, we understand etiquette, and fully comprehend the workplace. We work with businesses all around the South Florida area to find the best talent (who understands basic concepts like cell phone manners, no less) to help talented individuals find the career opportunity they’ve been waiting for. We have a wide variety of positions and a large number of businesses to help with whatever skillset it is you have to offer. Contact us today to see how we can help you.