Just call me...

6 Comments

Comment by Joyce Boadt on June 2, 2008 at 9:16am

It's all about managing expectations. I have a cell phone and will soon be upgrading to a Blackberry. However, people who know me understand that I will get back to them on my time. I turn the phone off when dining out. I turn the phone off when at a movie or show. I turn the phone off when spending time with a friend. I won't put one person "on hold" to take the next call. This has been my personal policy for the past 7+ years and noting tragic has ever happened because I wasn't immediately accessible.

If people know up front how you operate, then you don't have to apologize for having other priorities in addtion to work. As an added benefit, it empowers people to make their own decisions.

Comment by Erik Deckers on June 2, 2008 at 11:24am

When I was at my last job, I was required to have my Blackberry on my person at all times. That became a habit when I took my current position. But I have started weaning myself from it, often ignoring the buzz of my emails, and refusing to answer the phone when it rings during a meeting.

The thing that I have found is that people (including me) have come to equate "instant access" to "instant response." I found myself getting frustrated when people don't respond to an email or phone call within ten minutes. After all, I'm reachable, so why aren't they? So I have committed to not expecting that of other people. To do it, I quit expecting it of me.

Comment by Patric Welch on June 2, 2008 at 3:51pm

I will never give up my cell phone but I have learned to treat it more like a land line. If it rings and I'm eating dinner, playing with my kids or whatever, I don't answer it. I've learned it's ok to be "not home" with a cell phone.

Comment by Brad King on June 2, 2008 at 4:37pm

yikes is right...I have clients that expect me to be available almost 24 hours a day. Why? Because I enable them. When I'm selling my services, I say things like, "call me anytime" or "my cell number is the best to reach me". I've created this monster...no one to blame but me. I have some adjustments to make. I'll get on that as soon as I return this list of calls...

Comment by Matthew Theriault on June 26, 2008 at 10:26am

My last job went the exact opposite. I was in sales there as well, and although we all had cell phones, from day one our manager instructed us specifically that in a presentation, or any face to face with a client, we were to not even have our cell phones on our person. You left it in the car. Now to be fair, that rule was discarded when I travelled and my wife was pregnant with twins. But even then, we had a deal that if it was an emergency, she wouldn't call me, just text me "911" so that I knew it wasn't just a "how ya doin'" call. Otherwise, the phone was on vibrate, and got ignored if ANYone called. I've taken that into my current position and personal life as well. It's there for MY convenience and use, not anyone elses...(unless they want to pay the bill...then we'll talk...but if they see my cell phone bill...I don't think I'll have any takers).
Not as a plug (necessarily) but that's what I love about what I do. My office phone is all I generally give out, and that number can be called anytime, and if you leave a message for me (if I'm not at my desk or reachable for some reason) from 7 am to 9pm, my phone system will call me and let me know someone left a message. Then I can check it on my schedule.

A good friend of mine said "We go to work and give our best, and then bring the leftovers back to our families...that's just nuts." I agree, and the cell phone thing is just one way to control what I give and when.

Comment by Nicki Laycoax on September 15, 2008 at 11:21pm

I am a cell phone addict. I keep my phone on the back of the toilet, which is right next to the shower when I shower. If it's someone that I have been expecting, I will answer it and tell them that I will call them as soon as I am out of the shower.

I sleep with my phone beside my bed, and charge it as I sleep and use it as my alarm clock.

I take it with me everywhere, so that I can access my email, just in case... :)

I've been known to answer the phone and talk at 1 a.m. just in case it is someone that needs something important, or in case they've run out of gas, or been hijacked... (no one that I know has been hijacked, but ya never know.. )

So, yeah, my phone is now a permanent appendage. Sadly...

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