Business Class

It seems this has happened to everyone: You’re in an important meeting with your best client, your boss or some bigwig when your cell phone starts ringing.

You should have turned your ringer off. No one is more important than the person you’re meeting with, so it’s almost never acceptable to take a call during a meeting. That goes for reading or writing text messages, too.

There are, however, exceptions to this etiquette rule: if you’re anticipating an urgent call regarding a family member’s health, or if an incoming call will provide valuable information for the meeting. In either situation, you should let the person/people you’re meeting with know before the meeting that you’re expecting an important call. When you take the call, excuse yourself and leave the room.
 
One more tip for avoiding bad cell phone etiquette: Pay attention to your tone and topics during cell-phone conversations in public. No one who isn’t very close to you wants to hear about your doctor’s appointment, your late-night escapades or your mother’s ailments.

Good cell-phone etiquette boils down to this: Be mindful of and considerate to those around you. Not only will you gain respect of those you’re with, but you also won’t risk having other people know about your embarrassing situations.

Do you have a question for Suzanne Willis about business etiquette? E-mail etiquette@gulfshorebusiness.com.