Frank Palmer, chairman and CEO of DDB Canada, made a bold move to remove the distraction and irritation factor that has created bad habits and improper etiquette in meeting rooms across the world (at least the ones DDB is involved in).
A CNW release yesterday states:
"Over the past year, I've become increasingly aware of and annoyed by
staff who use their BlackBerries during meetings," says Palmer. "Whether it's
done openly or covertly under the table, using a PDA during a meeting is
completely unacceptable, disrespectful and hinders the progress of the
meeting. While these devices are considered time-savers, they're also
extremely intrusive."
Past year? It has been going on longer than that. I'm as guilty as the next person, but this has inspired me to go the extra mile. I turned my profile to "Phone Only" a long time ago, but admit that I still check the little devil too often.
Frank has guts. It is good to see someone take a stance like this to instill appropriate behavior. Bravo Frank.
Technorati Tags: Frank Palmer Etiquette BlackBerry PDA DDB DDB Canada
BlackBerries are so much more than Email terminals. I regularly use my BlackBerry to take notes and create new Tasks arising from the meetings I attend. Of course, I try always to let people know that's what I'm doing when I put my BlackBerry on top of the table in front of me.
Answering emails in meetings is just plain rude. But so is daydreaming and doodling.
I think that Frank's ban on BlackBerries is as futile and wrong-headed as banning email in the workplace (the early nineties) or Web surging (the mid-nineties) or IM (the late nineties.) We all figured out that each of these could be put to good use in the workplace. Yes, some people could use them to waste time. But you can't deal with people's lack of discipline or focus by simple nostrums like banning devices or applications.
For those who are smart users of technology and have enough manners to know how behavior in meetings reflects on themselves and the company they work for, I agree with you Joe.
For others (and I think Frank's target audience here are the more junior agency folks) it sends a clear message that meetings are called for the purpose of meeting. Needless distractions are unwelcome.
Pulling out a laptop in meeting to take notes is acceptable. Taking out a laptop to surf the web (or respond to emails) in a meeting is unacceptable.
Lets not kid ourselves that, at the end of the day, everyone can agree Frank saw lots of PR value in announcing his policy in this manner. Makes him stand out from the crowd - likely inspired by the recent talk in the news of Blackberry policies that are trying to strike a more favorable work/life balance.
Yes, they are much more than email devices. I use my Blackberry at conferences to take very detailed notes of the sessions. And, pulling it out in a meeting to find a time in the calendar to schedule an appointment/next meeting is also acceptable.
The problem is that PDA's are more than often used in the wrong context at inappropriate times - by junior and senior folks alike. Perhaps his approach is a bit ham-fisted, but I do applaud his effort to get to the root of a growing behavioral issue.
Right or wrong (and I believe he's right)... I personally question the cost and rationale for putting this out over the wires?
I get the impression that he's a frazzled primary school-teacher trying to use a novel "game" to bring discipline to an unruly classroom because they can't act like adults otherwise. Aren't we supposed to behave like the adults - and professionals - we supposedly were hired to be? Do we need to be coaxed?
Brendan,
I agree that we are adults and should be treated as such - but you must admit there are those out there that are adult by age, not by how they act.
Putting it out over the wires was self promotion, no question. What if he had just blogged it? I would have been a lot less suspicious of his motives if he had gone that route.
In terms of cost, did you mean the ultimate cost it may have on his business? In that light, I wonder if his intention was to signal to clients that face-to-face relationship time takes priority over everything else. I can buy into that. I can also see how the execution of his idea makes this look juvenile, no matter how right he may be.
Thanks for the comment.
The press release is probably good in that, first knee jerk reaction is "yeah! I agree with him!" (as a matter of fact, I have gotten into the habit of clicking off my computer screen when people walk into my office so I can focus my attention fully on what they are saying and I'm not distracted by my desktop.)
However, upon thinking about his message more, I agree with Brendan. Palmer is basically telling the world that his staff are rude and have ADD. Isn't that PR rule number one - whenever possible, keep the family secrets in the family?
Or maybe his meetings are really, really boring.
Thanks for your comments Shari.
After thinking about it for a few days and reading some great comments it generated, I am seeing that that this exercise may not may not be as wonderful a thing as I first thought. I'm not changing my stance, but acknowledge it has changed my initial "holier than thou" perception of the move. (I am not just saying that because my CEO was the first person to comment on this post and take issue with Palmer. )
I hold true to the notion that you are on a right path when people either love what you have done or hate it. When no one cares you've fallen into the middle of being bland and mediocre - that is worst place to be! Perhaps that is what I liked - that he took a stand and was willing to have people criticize him. Maybe his staff are rude little buggers and he knows there really are no secrets - just information that we don't know/have yet. ; ) (that's an Adam Curry quote)
My takeaway is that, in taking a pro-Frank position on this, it stimulated some great conversation here. I love the back and forth. So, jumping off the fence was well worth it!
Hope all is well with you,
Michael
The thing with Blackberries is that you're not even sure if what they're doing is work-related. For all you know, your people are bored with the meeting and are chatting away with someone else. Besides, it discourages attentiveness and encourages distraction. To be in a meeting, you have to be IN a meeting. Mind and body.