The New Etiquette for High Tech

As I wrote my thank you note for a business presentation given and sent it through email, I thought things have certainly changed. Some for the good - and some for the bad. Good, in the respect that email has become an accepted form of communication and bad regarding cell phone use. Here are some tips that will help you be your best when working with high technology.

• Remember that high technology is meant to make business and life easier and not a means to be antisocial and rude.

• On an interview or meeting with a prospective client, your cell phone should be off or on the vibrator mode. If it goes off, you've lost.

• If you are expecting an "important" phone call alert the client and put the phone on vibrator. Important is up there with a do or die situation of which there are very, very few.

• If you have to make a call ask those around if its ok to use your cell phone.

• Have your cell phone off or on vibrator at the movies, symphony and elsewhere where others are gathered.

• Using your cell phone in front of others isn't cool and it doesn't communicate that you have a lot of friends, rather, it says you are rude and antisocial.

• At a restaurant, do not take calls at the table, rather, go to the restroom lobby and make the call from there.

• When you are in the car with someone avoid using your cell phone. If it's to set up an appointment for your kids while they are in the car - don't. You need to concentrate your attention on your driving.

• When working with a client ask them how they would like to be communicated with, if email is ok, telephone or fax.

• Do not use the fax to receive personal information since most faxes are for department use.

• Email thank you notes are ok in this age of time; however, a written one sent via the mail spells a greater effort on your part.

• Laptops, when used in a presentation, should be used as a visual aid and not the focal point of the meeting. Make sure to maintain eye contact with the prospect or client.

• When having lunch with friends, relatives, colleagues from work or a prospect, don't make a call and don't answer your cell.

• Cell phones that take pictures should be used with permission of the person having their picture taken.

• Keep your email professional at work and personal at home. Nowadays companies have the software to monitor your web usage and email.

• If you are sending important documents via email make sure to also mail a hard copy.

• When using the cell phone, speak quietly so you conversation is private and only use it when it is absolutely necessary. Its crazy, when I get on a plan, people are giving a minute by minute report until we take off and then again when we land.

• Be gracious, when they say no cell phones, don't use it.

• Palm pilots should be used to take notes or jot down dates, not as a play toy when you're bored.