Hi Jonathan,
I can only comment on 2 & 3 and add little bit of insight re: 2 as a leader.
Addressing them in reverse order.
3 – I will often be at dinner with a friend of mine and we have some pretty in-depth conversations. We both use our phones to look up information and sometimes share the link right away to ensure we don’t forget. Same with photos, etc.
In those cases, we’re using our phones to augment and enhance our time together. I’ll do this in meetings sometimes, but I usually tell a good portion of people that I’m taking notes on my phone (which is true) and augment my notes w/ research.
It’s funny: This is when I most often use my iPad (networking luncheons, etc.). People automatically assume, if a person is using a tablet, they are taking notes. If they’re on a phone, they must be “goofing off”/texting friends, etc.
For #2. I have two military stories to share.
2-A) I was in charge of a public affairs detachment and took one of my senior soldiers to a HUGE meeting, discussing subordinate units’ training throughout the year.
Commanders were discussing their training calendars for the next year with their boss and support staff from every level. When someone mentioned something super-cool (visually exciting, demonstrated a key capability, etc., I excitedly wrote it down – Date, time, location, unit, extra-info, etc.).
I took notes; my sergeant alternated between notes and his phone. When we were walking out at the end, I was energized and had 5 - 6 key events I wanted us to send photographers and to and invite civilian media, etc.
I asked, "Did you write down the 5 - 6 implied tasks and the details so we can cover them? … He said, “No. They never called out our section by name and asked for us to do anything.” Nearly missed opportunities to multitasking!!
2-B) I had moved higher up on the “food chain” and was a staff officer by myself in a similar meeting. I was learning about events we would need to cover that afternoon or within a day, etc.
I spent most of the meeting using my tablet to text & email to my next-in-charge/subordinate(s) letting them know about things that were about to happen.
In both of those meetings, I may have addressed a few personal items; but kept things mostly on task. I’m accustomed to listening to two conversations at once but don’t rely on that skill very often.
re: Item 1 — Someday I’ll join the ranks of Apple Watch users(!).
I have to share a bit about a Millennial at a networking luncheon (not bashing Millennials or “the young,” just mentioning we all have to mentor where we can!).
We were talking about iPhone use in meetings and she said, “I’m so happy with my Apple Watch! Now, in meetings, I don’t have to keep looking at my phone, I can look at my watch every time I get a notification.” … I had to break her heart and tell her that most people my age running those meetings would frown just as hard, if not harder, at someone who kept checking their wrist every other minute during a meeting I was running!
Perception is everything!
–Tim
P.S. I’m *Loving the iOS update that allows us to selectively edit app notifications right away! … Some things I thought, “Why yes, I’d love to hear from this app. have changed SO much.” … Just a couple of weeks’ eliminating certain apps notifications has streamlined my life and made things a lot more focused for me (Previously, I’d say, “I’ll get around to restricting that app later. … I swear I’ll get to it!!!”).
