THERE REALLY IS NOT A CONE OF SILENCE

Do you remember the Cone of Silence from the 1960's spy spoof Get Smart? The idea behind this transparent sound-proof "Cone" was that once it was lowered, hovering over the individuals immersed in secret conversations  others (particularly members of Kaos) would not be able to hear what was being said.  This "cone" was fictional, and in fact didn't work most of the time,  yet somehow in this era many people talking in public places  seem to believe that their conversation is somehow private. This is particularly the case with cell phones.

Today I was in a lobby waiting for a colleague of mine and there was only me, the receptionist and a woman present. Well the latter, takes out her cell phone and places a call and then gets into intimate details about what seemingly is the split from her husband...how she told her daughter that this man, the girl's father, was a jerk and a miserable piece of work and that it is good that she wasn't seeing him. She also relayed in detail the arguments, how she was going to take him for everything he was worth and so on. This conversation went on for over 5 minutes, as I was standing there listening to every word.

This conversation made me feel uncomfortable, but I had no choice to listen to every painful word. I didn't know this woman, but she doesn't know if for some reason I did, or perhaps I'll meet her at some event and so on. She doesn't know if her husband (or I'm assuming soon to be ex-husband) had sent some person to listen in on her conversation, to determine her strategy or whatever. But beyond that, this is really personal stuff, that I shouldn't be expected to listen to.

I find the lack of etiquette with  electronic devices appalling, both in business and when in a social setting. If you are having a meeting with me, stop checking your PDA. I would like to believe that the discussion we are having is important enough to warrant your full attention. And please, don't answer your phone (always with an apology of course...Oh sorry, I need to take this). We seem to have devolved into an ADD (attention deficit disorder) society...we can't focus on any one thing more than a few minutes

But whether on an electronic device, or just having a business discussion in a public place, like a restaurant, be aware of your surroundings. You don't know who may be near you who might have a vested interest in what you are discussing. And when on your laptop on an airplane or at a Starbucks working on a presentation or reading a confidential document, don't assume that whoever is near you isn't taking the opportunity to glance at your work. I have seen more business presentations that I should never have on an airplane, as the person next to me was working. I know you are saying "why are you looking?" Well, because it's there and who knows what I might learn. Am I supposed to sit just ramrod straight because someone else isn't being prudent? Should I carry ear plugs, so I can't hear certain conversations?

This will sound odd, but I got some of my best business intelligence from the smokers in my teams because when they were out having smoke breaks, it was amazing what people would be discussing. I never encouraged any of my smokers to quit, because the information they brought back was golden.

So remember, just like in Get Smart, the Cone of Silence doesn't really work, and I really don't want to know that much about you or your business. So wait until you are in your car, in your office or somewhere alone, because you never know who might be listening.