Etiquette for the Cell Phone User

Although mobile phones were actually designed in the 1940s, it wasn't until the 1980s that they started to become popular. At first society did not know how to handle the in and outs of the cell phone. The new rules, new boundaries had to be set. And some individuals set no boundaries and followed no rules.

For example, several years ago, I was in a home improvement store and the gentlemen in front of me had not one, but two cell phones. Not only did he talk loudly but shared very private information about his divorce, his child and soon-to-be ex-wife.

So many lessons to learn from this situation. First, don't talk on your phone in a check out line or directly in front of the clerk (most phone calls can wait).

Second, if you must answer the phone, learn what an inside phone voice is and use it.

Thirdly, never, never talk about private information in public. This is a small world and people know people who know people who know...you get my point.

And lastly, please don't wear a shirt that represents your company or employer. Did I forget to mention he had his on? Now, is that a good representation of the image you want to project for your company? I think not! I will remember not to use them for future services. What if he would talk about me and our professional relationship in public like that? Yikes!

But now in 2012, I will say, I sincerely think society is getting a handle on the cell phone. We are navigating though this new set of rules pretty nicely. We have learned to set boundaries that seem polite to people around us personally and in the business environment. I observe people at lunches, in business meeting, school functions, at the gym and in stores learning the right way to handle the cell phone. Keep up the good work.  

Now texting, that is a whole another animal to be addressed.

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