I have to tell you, I'm sick of being told to "put away the blackberry" and "turn off the laptops" during meetings (#7 above). It's 2009. Who among us does not manage multiple projects simultaneously? The inference that I cannot be a good listener and engaged audience member just because I keep my technological assets at the ready is absurd. Hell, we drive with the radio on, GPS on, radar on and have conversations with others in the car or on the phone. And MOST of us do so safely. We are in an age of multi-tasking. Get used to it!

Most of the meetings I attend where these ground rules are posted are run poorly and, quite frankly, lose my attention. I'm actually BETTER served keeping other communications lines open and active during those events. And yes, I am still an engaged member at those meetings when needed.

I won't argue that some meeting members' manners need mending. But that's another issue, altogether. Here's my suggestions for those interrupters:

1. Type quietly if you are on your computer --and by the way -- who says these folks aren't taking notes on that computer at that meeting? Why do we assume that they're glued to their email in-basket?

2. Phones on vibrate or mute. If you get a call you have to take, walk out and take it. Otherwise, your phone has a feature called "leave a message".

3. Text message only if that response to that email or SMS message can't wait. If you must, do so sparringly and obscurely. Of course set your phone keys to silent so we don't get the impression you're calling space ships.

Bottom line for me -- Hey, address me if I'm not engaged or being disruptive. But please stop saddling me with 1980's management rhetoric and unpliable rules of engagement. Just because you can't multi-task effectively or responsibly doesn't mean I can't. The alternative is that I won't attend your meetings.

I think this is a very well-considered, intelligent, and useful post, Jon.

They say every day is a school day. That day began with this.

Thanks,

Patrick

I totally disagree with the first comment. If you attempt to multitask while attending a meeting, you are contributing to a poorly run meeting!! Instead of wheeling through those e-mails that require your response so the company does not come to a screeching halt, voice your concern that the meeting is not staying on topic and exit the meeting if you feel your time is not being well spent. If more of us do that, meetings will become more efficient and targeted.

I totally disagree with the first comment. If you attempt to multitask while attending a meeting, you are contributing to a poorly run meeting!! Instead of wheeling through those e-mails that require your response so the company does not come to a screeching halt, voice your concern that the meeting is not staying on topic and exit the meeting if you feel your time is not being well spent. If more of us do that, meetings will become more efficient and targeted.

Jon's comments reek of arrogance and immaturity; multi-tasking behavior such as he describes would not be tolerated at meetings in my (and I would have to believe others') workplace.

Jon should grow up and realize that if his current job was gone tomorrow he'd have limited luck in finding employment where his current behavior would be acceptable.