Can’t you put that thing down for FIVE minutes?!

I have a co-worker who is one of those types of people. You know the type. You’re sitting there in a meeting, discussing the next big project, and his BlackBerry rings. Not only does he answer it, but he starts chatting away. Sometimes he will leave the room, and sometimes he just turns around and continues talking (yes, thanks, that helps the rest of us so much). It wouldn’t be so bad if it was an urgent call, but he answers them all. That’s okay, though, we’ll just assign all the really nasty project tasks to him while he isn’t paying attention. He needs to learn some BlackBerry Etiquette.

Etiquette is something many people forget about when they get a BlackBerry. They may think “Hey, I got this thing for immediate communication, so I must communicate immediately”. Wrong! Unless you’re a doctor or presently on-call for your company’s IT department, the calls and emails can wait. Talking on or checking email on your device when you should be paying attention to someone/something else is, well, rude.

There are some good basic tips for BlackBerry etiquette that everyone should try to follow - if only to keep the spouse/significant other from sending your device on a porcelain water slide ride.

When you’re in a meeting change your device’s Profile to Quiet, Vibrate, or (best yet) Off. As I already mentioned, unless a life is on the line, or you are the only one who can replace the light bulb in the ladies room, the call can wait. The last thing you need is to receive a call and have your device play your new “Take This Job and Shove It” ringtone during a staff meeting. If you’re not sure how to change your Profiles, there is an excellent BlackBerryFAQ article with step by step instructions (and it even includes pictures).

Oh, don’t set your BlackBerry on the meeting room table. Seriously. We all have them, and having yours sitting there blinking at me, just waiting to go off, does not impress me (since I have 2 and you only have 1 anyway). Put it back in the holster and out of sight. If you really do need to take that call, then politely excuse yourself so that you are not disrupting others around you. 

Composing or replying to email during a meeting is also be frowned upon (ok, I’ve been guilty of this one, but only when ‘he’ starts talking on the phone). While it’s very tempting to ‘just send a quick message’, ask yourself if it can honestly wait until you’re done with your meeting. Whomever arranged the meeting and invited you to it wanted your undivided attention, otherwise they would have just sent you an email.

Again, if you are waiting for an urgent email or text message (RSS feeds for sporting events do not count!), and your reply cannot wait, then politely excuse yourself. Or at the very least make sure your key tones are turned off so everyone doesn’t hear you beep, beep, beep your reply (Options -> Screen/Keyboard -> Key Tone = Off).

Other situations also warrant your undivided attention. Things like talking face to face with a co-worker/spouse/friend, out to dinner, driving your car (okay, you can talk with a headset, but no text or email!), or standing at the cashier at the store. Standing in a long line is one thing, but if the cashier is currently ringing up your purchases, put the BlackBerry away. Someone like me may just add a few packs of gum and a laser pointer to your order if you’re not paying attention. Okay, I might be busy checking sports scores, but you get my point.

I am positive you won’t burst into flames if you don’t check for new email every 30 seconds, and your email response or phone call can really wait until you’re done with whatever you’re in the middle of doing.

Well, almost positive, but give it a try anyway.