September 23, 2019
We all know the old adage, “It’s not personal; it’s just business.”
But we also know that business is not just about numbers and transactions — it’s a highly personal space wherein relationships matter. Businesses rely on their customers to stay afloat. Employees need human connection at work for successful collaboration. They connect with their colleagues, their bosses, their clients, and vice versa, making the network for relationships within and around a single business an intricate one.
What cannot be denied, however, is that the rise of technology in the workplace has altered the way teams communicate. A survey shared by Entrepreneur details key facts on workplace communication: 73% of workers text on a daily basis; 82% make phone calls; 73% work with emails; and 55% use social media as communication tools. These channels have speeded up collaboration like never before, helping teams streamline ideas and organize projects.
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Posted by Margaret Page in Business Etiquette, Communication and tagged technology, business, communication
May 8, 2018
Twenty-five years ago, the idea that I could open a small screen in Canada and have a meeting with a colleague in Indonesia was absolutely something out of a science fiction novel. Now, it’s something I do on a weekly basis — and I’ve noticed that virtual meetings are just as rife with etiquette faux pas as in-person meetin
Live chat, screen shares, and video cams are an essential part of doing business today, but they have their own special rules and challenges. I’ve run hundreds of virtual meetings over the years and learned from my mistakes. Here are my top tips to help you leave the right impression and make the most of your screen time.
Common Courtesy
- Find a quiet space. Obviously, noisy coffee shops are not ideal. If working from home, keep the barking dogs and kids in another room. In the office, close the office door or find a conference space.
- Avoid distractions. Focus on the meeting and avoid temptation to scan the web or look at your phone.
- For video calls on Skype or other platforms, dress in business casual and be well groomed. If working from home, test the camera angle to make sure a neutral background is all that is visible (not breakfast dishes and sweatpants).
- If possible, invest in a good headset and mic that cancel out background noise.
Tips for Hosts
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Posted by Margaret Page in Business Etiquette, Communication, Etiquette Tips and tagged technology, #businessetiquette
February 13, 2010
If you ever…
- Interrupt a real-life conversation to take a (non-urgent) call
- Half-way participate in conversations while gazing at a screen
- Talk on a cell phone while paying for groceries
- Talk on the phone while using the restroom
- Fixate on a video/computer game (Solitaire, anyone?)
- Zone out and mindlessly eat in front of the television, then pullyourself off the couch and wonder where the hours (and food!) went…
…chances are, you’ve been techno-tized.
There’s something about the power of the almighty screen that shifts our minds into neutral. We suddenly become preoccupied and passive, falling into a trance where the screen dominates our attention while the world – and people – around us fade away.
If you’ve ever tried to talk to a child watching television, you understand this phenomenon well. But adults are just as guilty. We’ve all seen two people in a restaurant, ignoring each other but talking on cell phones as they eat.
To be fair, technology has come so far, so fast, that we can’t help but be fascinated. Have you seen computer graphics these days? And the animation in movies… wow!
But the point is this: technology is changing our culture – and it’s doing so at a shockingly fast pace. It takes us into uncharted social territory, where there are no rules (yet). And even if there were rules, they too would change by next year, maybe sooner.
So this leaves us all wondering: how do we behave? Where should we draw the line? What can we assume about what’s acceptable – and what’s not?
Here’s the bottom line: No matter how fascinating technology gets, do we really want to live in a world where people are more loyal to their entertainment, gadgets and games – than to other people?
Technology is as wonderful as its positive impact on our lives. The moment is starts drawing power from your relationships and real-world life, it’s probably time to…
*click*
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Posted by Margaret Page in Everyday Etiquette and tagged cell phones, distractions, technology, video games
