As I was leaving my office yesterday, I was waved over by an elderly woman sitting in the lobby of our building (which we share with a couple of doctors' and law offices). She was sitting with another elderly couple obviously waiting for their ride, when she motioned for me to come over. I walked over and said Hello, wondering what on earth she could want to ask me that was so urgent...
"Young man, what's that thing sticking out of your ear? Is that a little cellular phone?" she asked with a slightly quizzical, yet intrigued gaze at my Bluetooth headset.
"Yes," I replied, "well it connects to my cellphone, so all I have to do is push this little button on the side to take calls."
"Wow, that's FANCY!" was her reply, accompanied by a huge grin. (Wow, I think she actually understood what I meant.)
"See nowadays," I continued, "I think some of us have gotten so lazy we can't even reach into our pocket to make a phone call!" And all three of them burst out laughing (I said this in an obviously jocular way, which luckily they picked up on), and the gentleman said, "Nah, it's just that you must be so busy you don't have time to keep reaching for the phone." (Yes, I wish this were true.)
This encounter got me to thinking about all of the agents (and everyone else, frankly) that can't seem to function without these little electronic appendages growing out the sides of their head. For some, myself included, it is merely a convenience, while for others, it is an absolute necessity.
How many times have you begun to respond to someone, only to realize they were actually having a conversation with their earpiece and hadn't even noticed you until you so rudely interrupted their call? Probably more times than you can count on your fingers... and I bet its getting annoying.
So here are a few bits of Bluetooth Etiquette that I hope we can all start to follow.
1. Tell the person on the other line that you are using the headset. Not only is this a simple courtesy, but this way if they are having trouble hearing you they can ask you to pick up your handset.
2. Remember your "Inside Voice." Sometimes we need to speak up to be heard on the headset, other times we simply forget we have other people around us that are working. Either way, try to keep it at a conversational volume level.
3. Maintain your Situational Awareness. (A piece of advice I learned in Navy Flight School). Translation: keep aware of what's going on around you. Some people get so wrapped up in their conversation that they begin wandering aimlessly, arms flailing about, etc. Just try to stay focused, and remember you're not having an out-of-body experience on your Bluetooth phonecall. (That technology is still in beta-testing somewhere).
4. If you're going to be "negotiating" (read: arguing) please revert to your handset or step outside. This goes back to Rule 2.
5. Let people around you know that you are on the phone. Point to your ear, silently mouth the words "on the phone," or come up with some way to let people know that you are not talking to them, but rather to the invisible client in your ear.
6. Learn these words: "I'll call you back. I'm in the car." If you can't walk and chew gum at the same time, then you can't drive with your headset on. It's as simple as that. Being on the phone in the car, even when hands-free, gives many people tunnel-vision. If you are one of the people that ends your phone call and thinks, "Now how the heck did I get all the way here?", then you probably should hang up before driving.
7. When you're in a meeting, at an open house, showing buyers a home, or anything that involves actual interpersonal communication, put the headset in your pocket. People want to know that you are focused on them and what they are saying; when you keep the headset on, you are effectively sending the message, "I'm here with you now, but I'm waiting for someone more important to call."
I hope these are all simple rules we can each start to follow.
If you agree or you have more that you think I should add to my list, leave a comment.
I am always interested in how other people view the little gadgets we use every day.
Thanks for reading!! And remember, don't be a Bluetooth Badguy!
Comments(12)