Leseprobe: Zehnder/Senn: How to Meet, Host & Dress

1.5.1 Electronic business cards
These days, you can quickly and easily exchange contact information
using your mobile phone. Taking a picture of a business card is also an
efficient way. Contact lists or customer files can subsequently be
synchronised using an app. In fact, there are numerous inexpensive
apps with which to design, create, store, and send digital business cards
to other mobile devices and store and annotate third-party business
cards. Working with a digital business card folder is easy and
convenient.
Instead of exchanging paper or physical business cards, it is
becoming increasingly common to use different types of electronic
business cards for exchanging contact data. So make sure your
information is always up to date. Despite all the new
possibilities digital technology offers, printed business
cards are still very popular among most age groups.
For examples of business card apps
read the QR code.
Comply with local and international data protection regulations and
laws. Business cards collected at cocktail receptions, trade shows,
and other events are subject to the data protection provisions
applicable.
1.6 Phone conversations and mobile phone use
Make it a policy not to use your mobile phone during a visit or while
you are in a meeting. You should give your undivided attention to the
people present. Making a phone call or reading your emails implies
that these activities are more important to you than the people present.
Even simply placing your mobile phone in front of you on the table
suggests a willingness to interrupt the conversation to deal with
something “more important”. If you are expecting an urgent call, let
those you are with know beforehand. When a phone call comes in,
excuse yourself and move away to take the call. If you are called on a
landline phone during a meeting, apologise for the interruption, answer
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