SHOOT FROM THE HIP

As I sat at my window enjoying a break from the Southern California June Gloom and reading The New York Times this past weekend, I was struck by Alex Williams’ OpEd about BlackBerry etiquette. In it, he discusses the dilemma that many executives face about when and when not to pull out their BlackBerry. It got me thinking – when is it okay to bring this cute little third party (ie. my BlackBerry) into the conversation, personal or professional?

We, as a culture, addressed a similar dilemma as cell phones became ubiquitous a few years back. Companies issued policies regarding cell phone usage. Restaurants resorted to putting up “no cell phones” signs at their entrances. Meetings, meals and movies all began with a reminder to “turn off your cell phone.”

But BlackBerries, and their ilk, are a different beast. They live on even after the phone ringer has been turned off. They bring the world to our fingertips, and we have now become used to having the world there. As have our clients.

We, as a culture, have grown accustomed to having access to anything, anywhere, at any time. We like it that way.

Multi-tasking is no longer considered a special skill, but rather a requirement for navigating our 3.0 world. Who, while in a meeting, hasn’t felt the lure of accessing instant brainstorming aids with the help of Google, ordering lunch without breaking the flow of conversation, approving that important document so it can be sent out as soon as it is ready?

Is this efficiency or rudeness?

What happens if we miss hearing that point our colleague is making because our fingers are clacking away on QWERTY, or fail to see the excitement on our customer’s face because our heads are turned to our glowing mini-screens? No one wants that.

So where, exactly, is that line between sane, productive usage and the disruptive behavior of BlackBerry addiction?

This week, I went in search of an answer to that question. I decided to put my BlackBerry away during all meetings and all lunches, business and otherwise. It was a little terrifying at first, to be perfectly honest. No internet, no email, no texting, no Twitter, for hours on end sometimes.

What I discovered surprised me… Conversations went into unexpected directions. Challenges were given room to breathe. And I found myself IN THE MOMENT. All while the BlackBerry remained in its little pocket, left out of the mix.

Does this mean I am abandoning my BlackBerry? Absolutely not. I’m simply embracing BALANCE. It’s a solution that works for me.

Tell me, what works for you?