Poor tech etiquette may doom your promotion

Stay connected but don't let rudeness affect your credibility, say experts

By Joyce Teo, The Straits Times, 6 Aug 2012

ELECTRONIC devices, be they smartphones, tablets or netbooks, have fast wriggled their way into almost every aspect of our lives.

Scenes dominated by gadgets are repeated every day, every hour, everywhere. In restaurants, couples sit engrossed with their phones before their meals arrive. In group gatherings, many are spellbound by their devices and not the person next to them.

At work, these devices have invited themselves into meetings, conferences and talks as staff multi-task, stay connected or, quite often, seek temporary escape. E-mail needs to be replied to, work needs to get done and tasks need to be assigned.

Yes, staying constantly connected may help you get ahead and stay ahead at work.

But human resources experts warn: Don't forget to mind your manners.

Rudeness does not go down well with many people and poor tech etiquette may just cost you that eagerly awaited promotion.

How many times have you seen someone busy tapping away under the table while someone talks?

It signals to the speaker or the person chairing the meeting that you are bored or that you have better things to do. It is rude and do not assume that the speaker cannot see you doing it.

Other poor tech habits include constantly checking and exchanging e-mail and messages on the phone or laptop, or continuing with work on a laptop or tablet during a discussion.

Some people might even be on Facebook posting the goings-on of the meeting itself, notes executive coach and director of LZ Leadership International Tan Swee Heng. "People who persist with such behaviour in the workplace are chipping away at their credibility and professionalism."

He adds that the boss or customer may be wondering: If this guy's mind is often not present at our meetings, would he be able to handle a bigger job?

Ms Angeline V Teo, managing director of d'Oz International, says: "Many executives assume that with the presence of electronic devices, they must respond immediately, or perhaps check their e-mail every split second, regardless of where they are, whom they're with and what they are doing."

They are then simply becoming a slave to these devices, she says.

"Yes, we should work efficiently and respond to every e-mail and message. The question is how to do so effectively without jeopardising the quality of our work, our relations with the people we interact with and our quality of life?"

Here are her solutions:

- Build a culture of respect within the organisation. Knowledge workers need time to concentrate and stay focused to complete high-value work. Negotiate for uninterrupted time per week. 

- Manage expectations. Let others know you will be engaged at a meeting, out of the office, on a business trip or on medical leave. 

- Delegate to someone who can cover for you during your absence. Or redirect your phone calls to a buddy, and return the favour the next time. 

- When you are sending e-mail, indicate the action required and when you would like to receive a response. Stating "Asap" (as soon as possible) is not good enough. 

- Turn your mobile devices to silent mode, and keep them out of sight at a meeting. It makes no sense to be physically present and mentally absent.

"Technology does not bring about the bad habits," says Ms Teo. "It's people's mindset, the perception and the ignorance of understanding how to work efficiently and effectively that brings about the bad work habits."