At the same time, the 62-year-old said that smaller, more intimate meetings should be treated attentively.
“If it’s a small meeting, I would really frown upon if somebody is sitting opposite my desk and lost in their phone, I would tell them, ‘why don’t you come back when you have time?’”
Fortune reached out to IBM for further comment.
Behavior in the conference room is something that Dimon has long lamented. In fact, in his annual letter to shareholders last spring, he mentioned the word “meetings” six times—urging employees to only schedule them when necessary and to make them count.
While Dimon hasn’t drawn clear lines around meeting size like Krishna has, his frustration appears to extend well beyond small gatherings.
“There were 12 people in the room and four people on the screen and all four people on the screen were on their phone,” he recalled. “And people say, and you think you’re focusing and learning?”
However, multitasking in person is especially disrespectful and a bad habit, according to Gary Rich, founder of executive coaching firm Rich Leadership.
Taking the high-road—and practicing good meeting etiquette—can ultimately be an effective way to earn recognition, show genuine commitment, and build credibility.
