Wednesday, September 04, 2013

Etiquette in the use of technology

It may seem obvious to some, but there are so many different types of users of smart technology that some display their obvious crassness in public places. Some do not realise that their conversations are of no interest to others, while some may even try to impress others with their topics of discussion. But for those in good careers, it helps to know what should or should not be done.

Cubicle Etiquette: 12 Ways Technology Can Hurt Your Career

'Technology has made everything we do each day easier. We can navigate our way to a meeting, host a video chat with a client in Dubai, and check work e-mails from the golf course.

But all of this instant access has a price. As workers struggle to adapt to a workplace teeming with smartphones and tablets, it’s easy to make mistakes that can not only annoy co-workers, but damage reputations and destroy careers. If you find you’re focusing on your devices more than the people around you, you may be breaking the rules of technology etiquette. Here are a few guidelines for using technology in the office.'

1.     Don’t Check E-Mail Mid-Conversation
'Don’t allow your attention to drift to your computer screen or your smartphone while in a conversation with someone. ..'
2.     Don’t Wear Headphones in Communal Areas
'...Nothing annoys co-workers more than trying to decipher whether you’re on a phone call or not every time they see you.'
3.     Lose the Speakerphone
'... Believe it or not, other people in your office have work to do, as well. One other thing to keep in mind: your clients and vendors may not be so happy with being broadcast through your building.'
4.     Pay Attention During Meetings
'... If you must be reachable at all times, give your phone only cursory glances when you’re in a meeting, saving your responses until later...'
5.     Silence Your Cell Phone
'... Buzzing cell phones can be just as distracting as ringers. In fact, as a courtesy to co-workers, you should leave your cell phone on silent at all times while you’re in an office setting...'
6.     Use Your Inside Voice
'... The person at the other end of the line can hear you clearly if you speak in a normal tone of voice and those in the office around you will thank you for your courtesy.'
7.     Be Sparing with “Urgent” E-mails
'If you mark everything as “urgent,” eventually nobody will pay attention to anything you send. ...make sure each message’s subject line clearly states the purpose of the message inside to prevent messages being accidentally discarded as irrelevant.'
8.     Be Sparing with CC’s
'Before copying everyone from the cleaning person to the CEO on an e-mail, consider whether the information is relevant...'
9.     Avoid Text Shorthand
'...Even if you’re instant messaging or texting a business associate, use proper grammar and complete, well-punctuated sentences...'
10.  Keep E-Mails Professional
'E-mail is not the place to share office gossip. As a general rule, never put anything in e-mail you wouldn’t say to someone directly. In many cases, once someone hits “send” on an e-mail, there’s no way to get that e-mail back. An e-mail can easily be forwarded or misdirected, inadvertently ending up in the inbox of the very person who is the topic of conversation...'
11.  Look Up
'...Hallways and elevators provide the perfect opportunity to strike up a conversation with someone, possibly making a connection that can help your career.'
12.  Stay Away from Co-Workers on Social Media
'If at all possible, set your social media profiles to private and avoid befriending colleagues on your personal social networking sites. You may want to set up a professional site on Facebook and Twitter to accommodate your networking needs. If you must add co-workers, be sure to avoid posting anything you wouldn’t want your boss to know about. Even a private social media page won’t be private for long if co-workers decide to show your boss what they’ve found.'

'Technology has come a long way since the first books on etiquette were published. One thing hasn’t changed, though. Etiquette is simply being considerate of those around you and treating others the way you would want to be treated. By doing that, you can continue to move forward in your career while using the best tools available today.'

Source:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/drewhendricks/2013/09/03/cubicle-etiquette-12-ways-technology-can-hurt-your-career/
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