Etiquette Excursion with Mona Johnson

Are we attached to our cell phones? Oh yes, we are. Try to find someone over the age of fourteen without a cell phone. And do we misuse them. Oh yes, we do. We use them in the movie, even though they have asked us not to. We use them at the dinner table and snuff out family time. Parents us them and therefor the kids use them.

Do you have a cellular phone? Most people do and most people overuse and misuse their cell phone more often than not. Cellular phones are a wonderful invention and they can truly be a business asset and a business faux pas.

We allow our children to play with our phones during church. Yes, it keeps your child quiet but it can be annoying to other church attendees. But, probably not as annoying as a blue tooth on someone’s ear during church. You probably are not going to answer the phone during the service, so why not put the ear piece in your pocket or purse.

Most of you probably have an application for the Bible, which is very helpful. But when you start texting I doubt it is to God. Misuse of the cell phone in the office is just out of control.

Over use of a cell phone in the office can create problems. For individuals who are in the office eight hours a day the use of a cell phone on business time can be misconstrued as a non-work related personal call. Calling other businesses from your personal cell phone when you work full time in the office is not a good business practice. Now they can contact you on your personal phone. This is great if you want every to know that much about you.

Calling individuals about business at their home from your cell phone can create problems for the person you are calling as well as you if you need to document your work. Most personal cell phones will not have the appropriate greeting if the person should return the call and you for some reason are not able to answer. This could be bewildering and frustrating for the caller.

If you use a cell phone for business ensure that it has the appropriate greeting so the caller will know they have the proper telephone number.

Your personal cell phone should be used for your own personal business and not for your work.

If you are permanently stationed in your office you should use the office phones. If you are making business phone calls from your cell phone while you are in the office the question is why? Office phones are less likely to have the call dropped.

Unless your office has no phones or if everyone has access to cell phone only, you should make business calls from the office phone. Unless you are on the go and in and out of your car be business and professional in your behavior. Remember, people can hear you. Be careful of what you share in public. As they say, big brother is watching and listening.

Join me weekly as I answer your questions and share ideas as we explore the journey to good manners! Send your questions or comments to the Inland Valley News, 2009

Porterfield Way, Suite C, Upland, CA 91786, e-mail to editor@inlandvalleynews.com or e-mail, msparksj@verizon.net.

Mona Johnson is the CEO of Personnel Best a consulting firm specializing in how to conduct effective meetings, teaching public speaking, team building, leadership development, microphone use, networking, organizational and self-awareness.