(Originally published on 4.27.10)

We have a new client on the west coast who has a wonderful policy for working back to the future—meetings with no cell phones or Blackberrys allowed!

Imagine actually focusing on one subject—the subject you are sharing with people across the table from you. Imagine your mind in the same conference room with your body. Imagine actual eye contact.

The irony of our digitally enhanced work lives is that in the effort to be multi-tasking and multi-achieving we often end up being virtually productive. Not to mention, just plain rude. I have a feeling this electronic-free meeting policy will move eastward. At least I can dream. Until then, I will be left without my own devices in conference rooms to come.

Update: It looks like I’m in good company on this idea. In a recent post on Harvard Business Review’s blog, Peter Bregman wrote:

“A study showed that people distracted by incoming email and phone calls saw a 10-point fall in their IQs. What’s the impact of a 10-point drop? The same as losing a night of sleep. More than twice the effect of smoking marijuana.”

Multitasking is a myth. Moving your attention from one thing to another is really interrupting yourself. (Not just your meeting). We lose focus, concentration, and – potentially – some of our best ideas.

(Article via Mark W)