We all know it's a bad idea to use our mobile whilst cycling likewise it never ceases to amaze me how experienced business people who would not dream of answering their mobile phone in a meeting, suddenly decide that normal business etiquette does not apply because they're on an exhibition stand.
Following on from my last entry visitor surveys show that another pet hate is the mobile phone. It's bad enough if it goes off in the first place as this interrupts the flow of the conversation whilst you fumble to turn it off. However unbelievably I've seen some staff actually answer it completely alienating the customer.
Best practice is to switch the mobile off or set to silent, preferably switched off because there's always the temptation if you feel a vibration in your jacket to just check who it's from or the potential to lose your concentration mid conversation with your prospect.
Playing 'angry birds', sending texts, checking your email to pass the time on a quiet stand is irritating to visitors, even using the phone in the aisle is seen as bad form by prospects.
If staff need to use the phone best practice is to leave the stand and go somewhere like the coffee bar where they're obviously off duty. Mobile phones are fantastic tools however like everything else in life there's a 'time and a place' and it's not on the exhibition stand.
Jon Howarth - Manning the Stand - Exhibition Training
You may also be interested in: Ten questions your staff should know the answers to before you let them loose on your stand.
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