The 10 Golden Rules of Mobile Etiquette for Small Businesses

As small business owners, we all know how important our mobile phones are. They’re like our trusty sidekicks, always by our side. But sometimes, we forget that they’re not meant to be our offices wherever we go.

And here’s the thing: as our businesses grow, it’s not just our own behavior on our phones that we need to think about. We also have to make sure our employees know the drill. They need to be professional, stay safe, and show off our business in the best possible light when they’re using their mobile devices.

So, I’ve got a stellar lineup of tips to help us out. I’ve picked the brain of Judi Hembrough, the marketing director for small businesses at Plantronics, and I’ve thrown in some personal wisdom too. Take a breather for a few minutes and read through these 10 golden rules of mobile etiquette for small businesses:

1. Step back 10 feet if you need to answer a call. If you find yourself in a situation where you have to answer a call while talking to someone, it’s best to excuse yourself politely and give a quick explanation for why the call is urgent and can’t wait. Then, find a spot where you can maintain a respectful distance from others. Some people suggest moving at least 10 feet away.

However, it’s always better to avoid interrupting a face-to-face conversation to answer your phone. Interrupting the person you’re with gives the impression that the caller is more important than them.

2. Don’t use your smartphone during meetings. This means you shouldn’t look at your phone for text messages, emails, missed calls, or listen to voicemails. When you do this, it shows that you’re not fully focused on the meeting. It can make others think that you find them boring or unimportant. Unless you’re waiting for an important call from the White House, it’s best to keep your phone away during meetings.

3. Get back to calls within 24 hours. It’s important to respond to calls promptly to show professionalism and respect. If you know you won’t be able to return calls in a timely manner because you’ll be in meetings all day or on vacation, make sure to update your phone message temporarily. Just be sure to change it back when you’re available again. It would be a bit odd to have a message saying you won’t be available…until last week.

• Think about the person’s job. Most bosses I know want their salespeople to be easy to reach. But for someone like a software developer who spends most of their time coding, a delayed response might not be a big deal.
• Consider what’s normal in your industry. In tech and online businesses, people often use email more than the phone.

Step 4: Be mindful of where NOT to talk. I thought it would be helpful to remind you of places where talking is not appropriate. Let’s go through the list together:

In libraries, museums, and places of worship, we need to be quiet. The golden rule here is Shhhh… and no talking is allowed.

Restaurants are also not the best place for phone conversations. Even though there’s usually background noise, talking on the phone can still be disruptive to others. In fact, some restaurants may even ask you to leave, and you might get some unfriendly looks from other customers. On the other hand, coffee shops tend to be noisier and more relaxed, so phone calls are generally more acceptable in that environment.

When it comes to meetings, conferences, and events, it’s important to remember to turn off your cell phone. Make it a habit to set a good example. If you do this in your internal meetings at work, your colleagues will follow suit in all meetings and events.

So, here’s the deal. When it comes to using your voice, there are a few places where you need to keep quiet, like when you’re near running water or using the toilet. I mean, it’s pretty self-explanatory, right? Just a little reminder for you.

5. Speak softly and carry a big stick. This one is for those of you who like to talk really loudly when you’re on your phone. Oops, I mean, it’s actually about why you should avoid talking loudly on your phone. How many times have you had to listen to someone practically shout because their connection was bad? Don’t be that person.

Now, let’s talk about using the speakerphone mode on your phone. I understand that you might be tired of holding your phone up to your ear. But using the speakerphone mode in a crowded office or public place is not the answer. Instead, get yourself a headset. That way, you can have a long phone call without making your arm or ear go numb, and without bothering other people around you.

6. Say goodbye to that crazy ringtone. Okay, maybe I’m just kidding a little bit, but it might be a good idea to choose a more subtle ringtone instead of that wild acid-rock one you have on your phone. Imagine if your phone starts blaring in the middle of an important meeting and you forgot to turn it off. You definitely don’t want to annoy everyone even more with your choice of ringtone.

7. Keep private conversations private. Now, us business owners might already know this, but what about our employees and contractors? It seems like every time I go to a coffee shop, I hear people talking loudly about performance evaluations or secret business deals. It’s pretty clear that some teams need a little reminder about keeping sensitive topics out of public places.

Have you ever noticed how we can get so absorbed in our mobile phones that we forget about the world around us? It’s as if it’s just the two of us, talking in our own little bubble. But we need to remember to pay attention to our surroundings, as Judi Hembrough from Plantronics reminds us. After all, how would you feel if you realized that someone was discussing your private matters in a public place?

8. Be prepared for good cell phone reception. Before making or taking a call outside of the office, it’s important to make sure you can get a good signal in that area. There’s nothing more frustrating than trying to have an important business conversation but constantly having to ask for things to be repeated because the call keeps breaking up. If you’re having reception issues, offer to find a place with better signal and call back as soon as you can.

Hey, pay attention to your driving! I know we all love technology and staying connected, but did you know that using your phone while driving can be really dangerous? It’s not just a random rule – it’s a rule that saves lives!

Every year, people get into accidents because they’re using their phones while driving. And it’s not just about you – you’re also putting your friends and coworkers at risk when you do that.

In fact, did you know that some states in the U.S. have actually banned talking on a hand-held cell phone while driving? And even texting while driving is banned in even more states!

It’s not just the law cracking down on this – many companies are now adopting a strict no talking or texting while driving policy for their employees. And you know what? It’s a really good idea! If you think it’s a good policy for your company too, you can download a sample employee policy from Distracted.gov. (Download .doc policy here.)

10. Keep your mobile device secure with a password. I know it might seem obvious, but let’s take a moment to think about all the important stuff we have on our phones. There’s a ton of private information about ourselves and others. Last year, there was a project called Honey Stick where 50 cell phones were deliberately lost. Shockingly, almost every phone’s private information was accessed by the person who found it, whether they meant well or not. So if you lose your phone, it’s like giving away all your personal and company secrets.

If you have any stories about how to be polite while using your phone in public or at work, feel free to share them in the comments below!