Cell phone etiquette when dining. Never answer a cell phone during dinner, unless you have previously notified your guests that you have to take a specific phonecall. In today's society it is not uncommon...
In today's society it is not uncommon for the sound of a cell phone to pierce the air of a fine restaurant or bistro. The typical reaction is either a hand diving in a pocket or purse to silence the sound or a glare from the staff that regard this as offensive and disruptive to the other diners. Cell phones and pagers may be a way of life now, but they should be kept quiet and discreet during dining engagements. Many people find them as revolting as bodily sounds that are released in public.
Gloria Starr is the president of Global Success Strategies, Inc., a company that advises many top businesses and organizations on etiquette for executives. Starr says, "The first rule is if you have to take one phone call, you are going to let the guests know ahead of time that you are expecting the call. Let them know you will be leaving the table at that time as it is unavoidable." Many business associates may be so offended that they walk out on a meeting if you take even one phone call during your business meal with them. You don't need to be rude about the matter, but if you are a client or initiator of the lunch you should be able to express your views on the use of cell phones during your scheduled time. Either party should have the right to say that his or her time is important and the business at hand can best be handled with the other person's full attention. Cell phones create a distraction and, to complicate matters, a business associate is less likely to forgive you for personal calls that ring in at critical points of the conversation.
If you must have a cell phone with you during a business lunch or dinner here are some alternatives you can consider as a compromise. Most cell phones and pagers have a silence mode or vibration mode during which a light will flash or vibration will be felt. This will let you know that you have a call but will not interrupt anyone else at the table or neighboring diners. If you think the call is important enough that it can not wait until you have a break in the discussion, you may ask politely to be excused from the table momentarily and state that you will return promptly. If it is a moderately important call, you could wait until there is a break in the conversation and then be excused briefly to return the call.
The most important thing to remember is that you not slight your dining companions in any way and make them feel that their business with you is not a top priority. If you have scheduled this time to discuss the business at hand, then obviously those matters should take precedence during your meal. Maintaining professionalism, courtesy, and respect are crucial to the success of your appointment. Should there be a valid and important reason to take a call at this time, it should not be difficult to honestly convey the situation to the people you are dining with. It would be rude of them not to offer consideration to a worthy interruption. In some cases the call you plan to take may be related to the business you are discussing which should be a justifiable cause. It is best to think through your options and decide how to best handle the situation before your cell phone starts ringing. You may even want to discuss with a coworker or boss how he or she would handle a similar situation or what your company's corporate policy is on cell phone calls during business lunches or dinners.
