Drake SettsuProject Manager / BloggerHi, United States
What are your thoughts on banning cell phones in your meetings?
I have observed cell phones as a plus in a meeting to retrieve information and a big negative that causes distractions from the meeting. Saving Changes...
I am still learning and finishing my degree, but what about this:
Keep it simple and efficient.
Many of the team members has adequate numbers of task to perform and everybody should pass some report or keep in tucho out of meetings..... so unless unnecessary the meeting should not last that long in order not to disrupt the normal day of comunications between third parties out of the meeting. Saving Changes...
Antonio AlvarezProject Manager| ASELEC ELECTRICIDADLos Reyes La Paz, Estado De México, Mexico
I think its neccessary to ban cell phones in meetings. Saving Changes...
Drake SettsuProject Manager / BloggerHi, United States
Meeting guidelines as a reminder to the attendees might help.
Example: If you need to use your phone please step outside. Saving Changes...
Sana WaqarSenior Deputy Manager R&D (Packaging and Regulatory Affairs| National Foods LimitedKarachi, Sindh, Pakistan
I dont think attending a meeting without cellphones was impossible few years back...
We should draw a line, I guess. If we keep checking mails or text messages during the meeting, then there is something wrong. Either we are not important for the meeting or the meeting is not important for us to really focus on.
The count of useless meetings might also contribute to such attitudes rising globally. But it happens every day even in family gatherings.
People connect and get disconnected from the surroundings. They should ideally disconnect to connect with people around them. Saving Changes...
Daniel JeanData & Analytics Scrum Master| Delta DentalChicago, Il, United States
May 04, 2018 7:02 AM
Replying to Drew Craig
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This is a tough one. I personally don't think it is justifiable. Many have family and children, so not able to be reached is not realistic. As professionals, it is everyone's responsibility to act as such, though we all know it is not always like that.
It is fair to ask everyone to turn their phone on vibrate, as well as acknowledge the importance of having their phone, but also the importance of the meeting and being present in the conversation.
I agree with you as well. It is bad etiquette to constantly look at your phone during a meeting Saving Changes...
Product Operations Program ManagerBarcelona, Cataluña, Spain
Not a big fan of banning in general. Rather create and make available to the team the ground rules, clearly stating that cell phones are to be used only if strictly necessary, and the obligation to keep them in silent mode. Saving Changes...
Mickael de GandillacEngineer in process automation| GEAVictoriaville, Pq, Canada
I work in a production environment and all the supervisors and directors have portable phones (not cellphones). Whenever they ring, they pick up and say "sorry, I am in a meeting". Very distracting indeed, if you know you can't talk, why answering in the first place? But to reply to the initial question, It all comes down to courtesy and good manner, as mentioned it is very useful for retrieving information and other stuff, so people should be able to put them on silence mode and so on. By the way, there are some good integrations by Microsoft, such as giving you silent notification when your status is set as busy. Saving Changes...
Peter RapinSubject Matter Expect; Project Delivery| Independent ConsultantOntario, Canada
Believe it or not there was a time when cell phones did not exist, people were able to survive a meeting without disruption and still do their jobs and be available for family emergencies. We focused on the objective of the meeting, kept it short and to the point and released attendees to go about their functions asap. When phones first came in they were for phone calls only and disruptions were very few. Those expecting a call would forewarn and excuse themselves as required. Not a problem. Now cell phones are communication hubs - calls, emails, texts, notice of next meeting, Facebook postings and notifications, tunes and movies, reviewing attachments which should have been reviewed prior to the meeting. Big problem!
However most cell phones have message centres and it is really little bother to leave a response - "in a meeting call you back later"- All the rest is written documentation and can be deferred to after.
NO PHONES in the meeting unless its a meeting about misuse of phones.
Modern tech such as cell phones should be used as tools to enhance performance NOT detract from performing. Saving Changes...
From my point of view isn't about banning the cell phones, is to create with all the team some ground rules that build trust. Example, phones are allowed into the room just in case there is an family matter and/or a work emergency. Saving Changes...
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