Admin's Assistant

Workplace Gadget Etiquette 

As technology advances more and more, employees discover ways to utilize their personal gadgets while at work. Here are some gadget tips to consider in the workplace.

 

• Shut it off during meetings: Unless you must use your PDA or cell phone during a meeting, presentation or other gathering, turn off your phone or silence your ring tone.
  
  
• Don’t engage in e-mails during meetings or conversations: Your preoccupation with the e-mail message removes you from the discussion, and it just looks rude.
  
  
• Don’t text during meetings or conversations: Text messaging forces you to lose eye contact and sends the message that you’re not fully engaged.
  
  
• Consider your environment: An acceptable gadget behavior at one company may be unwelcome at another.
  
  
• Get permission before snapping pictures: Not everyone wants their picture taken and what you may find funny, amusing or memorable may be embarrassing to others.
  
  
• The person face to face with you has top priority: Never interrupt a conversation to answer your phone—let your phone’s technology (voicemail) do the work.
  
  
• Take both ear buds out when conversing with others: Leaving your ear buds in may cause the other party to feel as if they’re being rushed through the conversation.
  
  
• Opt for plain old note taking during meetings: If you take notes on your laptop, it creates a barrier between you and your coworkers, and they’ll be distracted wondering if you are surfing the net, in a chat room or worse, playing a game.
  
  
• Keep the volume to a reasonable level: Although you may enjoy listening to music while at work, having the volume too high could distract your coworkers.
  
  
• Obey your workplace rules for usage: It is your responsibility to find out what personal devices are acceptable before you start using them.

Information from elaineswann.com, adminsecret.com and career-advice.monster.com