There aren’t many things more annoying that someone who is distracted and distracts others by texting during a meeting. The message that person sends is that his/her time is more important than that of anyone else at the table. 

Here are five approaches you can use to eliminate electronic distractions during meetings:

Five Ways to Eliminate Calls and Texting During Meetings

1. At the beginning of a meeting, take out your own phone and say, “Before I start, I’m going to turn off my phone and put it away. Can I ask you to do the same?”
   
   
2. Make people pay one dollar on the spot if their phone rings during meeting.
   
   
3. Make an announcement “Thanks for turning off your phone.”
   
   
4. Ask “Can I ask for a commitment that none of us will text or check messages during this short, important meeting?”
   
   
5. If someone does start reading or texting under the table, stop talking and just look at them.