How to Practice Cell Phone Etiquette

Don't answer your cell phone during a meeting.

Everyone seems to have a cell phone, but not everyone practices cell phone etiquette. Having a conversation on your cell phone while riding the bus during rush hour, for example, is not respectful of other riders. Follow some simple etiquette rules to stay connected while remaining civil to those around you.

Instructions

1. Turn off your cell phone or put it on vibrate before entering a concert hall, theater or any other entertainment venue. The same advice applies in places such as libraries, houses of worship, classrooms, public transportation and waiting rooms.

2. Don't have private phone conversations in public places, such as in the grocery store, walking through the mall or in an elevator. Duck into an empty office or outside of a store before taking your call.

3. In a meeting, turn your phone off. Checking your phone for texts, let alone actually answering a call, during a meeting is disrespectful to others attending -- or holding -- the meeting. If it is an urgent call, such as from a doctor, politely excuse yourself from the meeting to take the call.

4. If you have an urgent call and you are not in an ideal place to answer it, speak softly and tell the caller that you will call them right back or ask her to hold while you excuse yourself to take the call.

References

• Bloomberg Business Week: Cell Phone Manners
• Parents: Teaching Kids Cell Phone Etiquette