STRATEGY

The best way to ensure the meeting manners of your direct reports is to make your expectations clear before you have any meetings. Unfortunately, that's not always possible. If one of your direct reports is obviously checking their phone or working on their laptop during a meeting, confront them as soon as possible. Assume that there's a reason, other than rudeness, for the individual's behavior: either that there's a family situation requiring them to be in constant touch or that they are so overloaded that they can't spare a minute for a meeting. Use that assumption as a way to enter the conversation.

TACTICS

• Attitude: Assume there was a reason for the rudeness or that there is a lack of understanding about basic business etiquette. Think of this as an opportunity to teach someone rather than criticize someone.
• Preparation: If possible, as soon as you assume a position with direct reports send a memo explaining that you expect people to turn off their phones and not use their laptops during a meeting. Note that if there is a reason why that could be a problem they should let you know before the meeting.
• Timing: Have this conversation as soon as possible after the meeting in which the individual displayed poor manners.

  
  

• Behavior: Do this in person and in private. You want the individual to be able to admit to either personal issues or work overload, and you don't want to call them out for being rude in front of coworkers.

ADAPTATIONS

This script can be modified to:

• Request better teleconference or Skype manners from a direct report.

KEY POINTS

• Assume there was a reason for the unacceptable behavior other than just rudeness.
• Offer a solution for the reasons and a way to avoid the issue in the future.
• Approach this as an opportunity to teach rather than admonish.
• Accept that the individual didn't have the right priorities.
• Make clear that the behavior exhibited is unacceptable and that there are alternatives.