The Dos and Don’ts of Smartphone Use for Business

Today, we encounter situations in business where digital communication is preferred by many people, and as a result, the use of smartphones to conduct business has become more common. With this shift in the way people do business, there are several considerations that the modern worker has to navigate to properly use smartphones to their advantage. Let’s take a look at a few in today’s blog. 

Do - Use Etiquette 

Smartphone etiquette is a term that you may not be familiar with, but you probably understand the basic tenets of it. It is essentially the manner in which you should act while using a phone for business. With everyone always using their phones, interactions have become a little less formal, but when conducting business, there are definitely times when it is a must to lose the casual tone. The truth is, if your first impression with a would-be customer is over the phone—especially a mobile call—there are some things you should remember because you only have one opportunity at a first impression.

Don’t - Use Speakerphone

Do not use the speakerphone option when you are on a business call; especially if there is a chance of background noise. With so many people working from home (or remotely from nearly any place), there is always a chance that some background noise could be deemed distracting and unprofessional. On top of that, most speakerphones just don’t offer the same clarity that a good headset or the standard microphone on a phone provides.

Do - Limit Notifications

Smartphones are undeniably useful, but they can also be a major distraction. One of the best ways to reduce distractions from mobile devices is to assess and alter your notification settings. By having a lot of notifications constantly coming in from all over the Internet, you may find that you spend more time checking your phone than you do focusing on your work-related tasks. By limiting the amount of notifications, you won’t need to worry about checking your phone as much and it can help you stay on-task. 

Don’t - Surf Social Media in Your Virtual Meetings

Most people nowadays have some type of social media presence; and many times people check it in their downtime at work. Unfortunately, many people don’t wait for downtime. Virtual meetings are tough on people sometimes. It sure beats sitting in a boardroom, but because of the virtual nature of meetings, people who don’t have much to do in the meeting can be added to the roster. If you are in a meeting, you need to pay attention, even if the meeting isn’t for you. Scrolling through Instagram is entertaining, but it won’t help you professionally most of the time. 

Smartphones can be a great tool or a major distraction, it all depends on how the user chooses to use them. At Horne & Benik, we can help you improve your mobile strategy with comprehensive mobile device management (MDM) tools, work profiles for mobile, and even VoIP-fueled mobile calling. If your organization needs some attention to its mobile strategy, give us a call today at (603) 499-4400.