Etiquette

I think that some of the text’s suggestions on communication media are a little outdated. When it comes to cellular phones, it is true that there is a time and a place, but to lump a restaurant in with the movies or church is apples to oranges. You don’t talk at the movies or church, regardless if it’s on the phone or with the person sitting next to you. It’s rude to the rest of the audience. In today’s business world, cell phones are a way of life. In my work I’m expected to be able to answer it 24/7. It’s important that my ringtone is appropriate for business and that use in a social situation is limited to business.

Answering machines and fax machines are quickly becoming outdated technology. There are safer and more secure ways to transmit form data than fax machines, and voicemail has become the predominant form of leaving messages. Even most home phone services come with voicemail making home answering machines obsolete. Faxes can now be transmitted directly to an e-mail box, and most fax machines are equipped with scan software making them capable of scanning documents into formats that can be stored on a computer and disseminated electronically at a lower cost and in a more secure manner.

Screen names fall into a different category as you have what’s personal and what’s professional. Most companies assign you a screen name that is easily identified as you for inter-office communication. If you are looking for work, create a username that can be easily identified as you for prospective employers and use that for your search. Conference calls fall into the same category. Make sure that when you speak to a group that cannot see you that you identify yourself and your position so that people know who you are and what your role is and how it is pertinent to the discussion.

Technology abuse is abundant in society today. Beepers, and answering machines haven’t really been a bother to me, but when people set me aside to have meaningless conversations with their friends, it sends a message that whoever is on the phone is more important than me. The same thing applies when putting someone on hold to take another call. That is no different than when someone approaches you while having a face to face conversation and interjects to pass information to one of the participants. It is up to the participants to decide which conversation is more important and kindly excuse themselves if need be. Rudeness is only in not acknowledging both parties and letting them know how you are prioritizing their potential discourse.