CEO Battle: Phone Etiquette in Business Meetings

Jamie Dimon, CEO of JPMorgan Chase, has voiced strong opposition to the use of personal electronic devices during business meetings. He has publicly stated that such behavior is disrespectful and a waste of time, particularly in smaller, more intimate settings. Dimon's frustration with meeting etiquette has been a recurring theme, notably appearing in his annual shareholder letters. He recalled instances where attendees were distracted by phones during virtual meetings.

Arvind Krishna, the CEO of IBM, offers a different perspective, particularly for larger gatherings. Krishna views extensive device use in large meetings as acceptable, characterizing them as communication vehicles rather than traditional meetings. However, he agrees with Dimon that attentiveness is crucial in smaller, one-on-one or small-group discussions. This divergence in opinion highlights ongoing debates about workplace productivity and digital distraction. Dimon's views come as JPMorgan enforces a strict return-to-office policy and recently opened a new global headquarters.