You just can't get away from them. Everywhere you go cell phones are ringing, vibrating and lighting up. Almost everyone has one in hand, on the meeting room table, and always at the ready. They are hurting business, reputations and relationships. One of those businesses might be yours.
Recently I was part of a team interviewing a prospective new employee. Naturally the department head began the questioning. Once he had concluded with what he deemed to be his part in the process, he turned the interview over to the rest of us. At that point he reached for his cell phone and began to check messages. As if that wasn't egregious enough, he then proceeded to text replies. If an elephant had walked in the room and taken a seat at that moment, it would not have been more noticeable.
Imagine how the prospective employee felt. Obviously, neither she nor the position she was seeking were of much importance. She was offered the job, but turned it down. Are you surprised?
People need to feel important and the way to do that is to give them your undivided attention.
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