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High Tech Etiquette
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*A monthly column devoted to helping women and men be their best and most confident in any situation.
Topics include dress, body language, attitude and etiquette. |
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Victoria Seitz, PhD
Image Expert |
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As time moves forward at a lightening pace, it's time to take another look at those high tech devices such as cell phones, faxes, pages and laptops. The internet is becoming an accepted manner of conducting business such as placing orders, maintaining client relationships as well as sending contracts with electronic signatures. So can you write an email letter of invitation or a letter of thanks on the internet? The fact that the word "internet" is no longer capitalized tells you that it has lost some of its prominence. But even though we are so hooked on the internet in conducting business besides other high tech devices what is the best way to use them?
- If in a meeting with a prospective client or in an interview, the cell phones and the pagers are OFF. If your cell phone goes off during an interview, you have lost the job already. If it goes off during a client meeting and you answer it, it communicates that the prospect is not that important even though a sale from them puts bread on the table.
- When using a laptop in a presentation remember the focus needs to be on the human factor. The presentation on the laptop is meant to enhance retention of the material since its employing more of the prospect's senses in comprehension of your message.
- What about a letter of invitation over the internet. When it comes to using the internet, there is a generational factor involved. Some generations prefer a call or a hard copy letter. Others are satisfied with correspondence over the internet. Ask first so not as to loose the connection. Also if its important material, send a hard copy just for assurance measures.
- What about a thank you note over the internet. Again it's a generational thing but people are still amazed when they receive a written thank you note. It says that you took the extra time to write and send it. But more and more people are satisfied with conducting all correspondence over the internet. Check first.
- Ok, I am guilty of this, cell phones in the car - using them. Driving requires all your attention so diverting it to talk on the phone is not a good thing. Some states have actually outlawed this. Besides other distractions such as eating and driving or putting your makeup on while driving or reading and driving, remember focus on getting from point A to B without any additional distractions IN THE CAR.
- Now when the boss or client is in the car - don't use your cell phone!
- A couple of things to remember. Faxes and computers in the office are for business only. Anything private should be handled at home. With faxes coming in, everyone sees them and now there is software to tap into where you are surfing on company time. Fair - I can't answer that, but employers today feel if you are using their equipment for private use on their time, its wrong and grounds for a reprimand or termination.
- When having a business lunch or dinner, turn the cell phone off. It is a distraction and communicates that the person that you are with are not that important which doesn't say anything good about you. Getting lots of calls doesn't mean you're important, it means that you're rude.
- How about the phones that can take pictures and send email? Be ethical in its use and don't intrude on someone's privacy. If you are going to take someone's picture, ask them first.
Victoria Seitz, PhD is a professor of Marketing at California State University, San Bernardino and is author of Your Executive Image, AdamsMedia, Inc, 2000 and Power Dressing, DonJon Publishing, 1991. In addition to teaching, Dr. Seitz was a fashion coordinator for Burdines, Florida and in retail management for Saks Fifth Avenue, Phoenix, AZ. Clients of Dr. Seitz have included Abbott Laboratories, Northern Telecom, Texas Instruments, Yellow Freight Systems, Sally Beauty Company, the United States Armed Forces, Travellife magazine, YWCA and Accountants Overload, in addition to law firms, hotels, newspapers, universities, banks, credit unions, national and local community and professional organizations nationwide.
To learn more about Dr. Seitz please visit her website at www.cbpa.csusb.edu/vseitz.
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