Human Resources Blog - Spark Hire

Mind Your Manners: 4 Simple Tips When Using Technology At Work

In today’s modern workplace, technology is everywhere you look. We use this technology to complete projects, keep in contact with customers, and facilitate clear communication between departments. We also use technology, including video interviews, to source and hire the best candidates.

With 28 percent of iPhone users checking their phones before they even leave bed in the morning, it’s safe to say technology is here to stay. With our increasing tech addiction, it can sometimes be hard to mind our manners when it comes to our hardware and software. Just because we can communicate faster and easier than ever before, however, doesn’t mean we should give up communicating well.

Here are some simple tips for minding your manners when you use technology at work:

Stop Checking Your Phone
As mentioned, some iPhone users are checking their phones before they’ve even eaten their breakfast. The need to compulsively check your phone for new emails and messages can be particularly strong. This habit of obsessively checking your device is rude to just about everyone in your company. Whether you’re in a meeting or performing a video interview with a top candidate, put the phone away. It will always be there for you when you finish. Focus your whole attention on the person talking, whether it’s an interview or just a discussion, to impress rather than annoy.

Use Your Speaker Sparingly
There are few people who enjoy listening to a coworker’s loud conversation over a speakerphone. Let’s admit it, for the most part speakerphones are annoying and everyone hates them. If you’re going to use a speakerphone, make sure it’s part of a larger meeting and that it serves its purpose of allowing multiple people to chime into the conversation. If you need to do something hands free, turn off your speakerphone and invest in a headphone.

Mute is Your Friend
If you communicate often using messaging services with all their bells and whistles (literally), be mindful of others. The constant pinging of an instant message might be just background noise to you, but it might be torture to an office mate. Do your coworkers a favor and mute these noises so they can concentrate without your conversations constantly being brought to their attention.

Be Careful What You Say
You never know who’s reading your Twitter feed or looking at your gchat status. Don’t gripe about your idiot boss or you could be the dummy when it turns out your boss has been following your social networks. Err on the side of caution and make sure not to post anything negative about your job in the online space. You might think it’s innocent or no one will be reading, but odds are someone will see. Leave the griping to happy hour with your friends and leave your social networks out of it.

Technology is a powerful tool when used correctly, but proper manners are still necessary. Think of the feelings of your fellow workers before you pick up your mobile device and you’ll be well on your way to minding your tech manners.

What are some ways workers can better mind their tech manners? Share in the comments!

SOURCE: Jobvite

IMAGE: Courtesy of Flickr by Geoff S.

Heather Huhman

Heather R. Huhman is the Career & Recruiting Advisor for Spark Hire. She writes career and recruiting advice for numerous outlets, and is the author of Lies, Damned Lies & Internships: The Truth About Getting from Classroom to Cubicle (2011), and #ENTRYLEVELtweet: Taking Your Career from Classroom to Cubicle (2010).

Weekly hiring insights to your inbox! 🔥