Posts Tagged ‘Deborah Rinner’

By Jamie Kelly
The Gazette

You have a shiny new BlackBerry, iPhone or other smartphone. But you need to be careful – the thing you bought to keep you connected could end up separating you from your co-workers.

People get into trouble using smartphones during meetings when they don’t know the corporate culture, according to Deanna Hurst, director of human resources at the Tippie College of Business at the University of Iowa.

Deanna Hurst, UI Tippie College of Business

“The best bet is to turn it off and put it away,” she said.

Pam Tbrdy, manager of media relations at Rockwell-Collins in Cedar Rapids, said she tries to strike a fine balance.

Because she deals with reporters from all over who need information quickly, she’s constantly checking her BlackBerry. But, she said, she knows she shouldn’t be doing that during meetings.

“It’s challenging,” she said.

She’s found the best policy for her is to either turn off or leave behind her BlackBerry for some meetings. That way, temptation is removed.

Deborah Rinner, Tero International

The people running important meetings can help their own communication, too, said Deborah Rinner, director of international protocol and corporate etiquette at Tero International in Des Moines.

The meeting leader should make his or her expectations clear, she said, and ask people to turn off their phones and put them away. Then they can give people a break every 60 to 90 minutes to stretch and to check their messages.

Usually, even the most urgent messages can wait the hour that most meetings take, Hurst said.

And, if you’re expecting one you can’t wait for, tell the meeting organizer you might have to step out to respond. That way, she said, you’re being respectful of the others in the meeting.

And although you might think you’re being sly by sitting quietly and checking your BlackBerry, you’re not.

“It’s not as inconspicuous as people think,” Hurst said.