No “Sorry” for cellphones in meetings

Lateness is more likely forgiven by colleagues

 

 

 

 

You are wrong if you think the usage of cell phones in meetings will not only remain undiscovered, but also will not disturb anyone at the table. Sending messages, silently watching videos, scrolling through media news or playing games are stressing relationships and impeding good meeting outcomes. Two reasons why: 1. Behavior which is not supporting a meeting´s goals are perceived as a lack of interest for the group and the meeting per se. 2. In contrast to lateness which may be due to external causes the usage of cell phones that is disconnected from the meeting´s intentions is considered as a deliberate act. Let alone the facts that people arriving too late produce only shortly a disturbance after wich they may contribute still efficiently and constructly till the end of the meeting.

Tells a newly published US-American study and maintains that short apologizes when being asked to put away the cellphones are meaningless. Bad impressions and slander are guaranteed then yet.

Pasketwitz/Wilson/Luttman/Devereux/Beck, “Comparing Counterproductive Meeting Behaviors: When Trying to be Subtle, Backfires”, in: Business and Professional Communication Quarterly”, first published online on February, 13th, 2026, https://doi.org/10.1177/23294906251413692

From the practice:

Hands off of cell phones in meeting – that´s good since it surely leads to more attentiveness and concentration of all participants. According to my experience, though, bad meetings are associated with chairs whose performance is beyond average. These chairs are not well prepared, too loose when leading and structuring of the contributions would be key, too hesitant in activating people around the table and too relaxed when tough time management would be crucial.

In such cases it is still extremely impolite to hide behind one´s cell phone and let the meeting rush past, but it is partially understandable at least. Efficiently chairing a meeting may be learnt and trained easily. Meetings may be fun even – if things are moving forward.