101 BlackBerry Etiquette
As the BlackBerry and other personal digital assistants (PDAs) have altered the business landscape, it’s now possible to conduct business at any hour of the day in virtually any location. But is that a positive change?
For those who are tethered to their BlackBerrys, the following pieces of advice should help you avoid common mistakes.
Appearances can be deceiving. Don’t assume that conducting business on a PDA during a meeting will be excused.
“You might think you are being productive and might even feel like you look important, but it’s a good bet your coworkers think you are being a pretentious idiot,” says Kevin Hill at crackberry.com. “Your boss might not think so highly of you either.”
Always be prepared. When you can predict upcoming PDA distractions, planning ahead can save your reputation.
“It is usually a good idea to let the person speaking or running the meeting know ahead of time that you may have to respond to a call during the meeting and apologize beforehand,” says Hill. “And proper etiquette is to excuse yourself from the meeting and take the call outside.”
Keep things confidential. When it comes to your BlackBerry, leave the pertinent and private information at the office.
“Don’t send or receive confidential information,” says Peter Post, director of the Emily Post Institute (EmilyPost.com). “I once found a BlackBerry on the backseat of a taxi. It was still on and all the information and e-mails were available to me.”
Keep things in perspective. “In our 24/7 world, all messages are deemed critical, but the reality is most are not,” says Hill. “Turning that BlackBerry off during meetings or at least putting it out of sight might be good for your nerves and your career.”
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