“YOU ARE NOT IMPORTANT.  WHY ARE YOU CALLING ME?  I HUNG UP WITH A PAYING CUSTOMER TO ANSWER YOUR CALL.”

That’s what she heard.
What I heard was her saying “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I apologize, I am so sorry.” 
So I asked what that was about.

<sigh>

He did it. 
In one simple move he offended two people.
The prospect he hung up on >>> in order to learn about the unknown caller.
And the caller he was rude to >>> who would have been much, much, much happier leaving a message. 

There is not anything about a ringing phone the requires answering.
Nothing.
Answering – or looking at – a ring, when in the presence of another person, is rude in the very best scenario, and  potentially devastating in every other.

Here’s how it goes:
[1] You think you’re being eloquent. You think you’re making a point. You think the conversation partner is engaged. Then suddenly, an interruption.  Doesn’t matter whether you hear the ring or not, if you see them look at their phone they’ve made it clear that the unknown — whatever caused the vibration  – was more important than you; than anything you were saying.

Ouch.
Their loss, since you have options. 

[2] Meanwhile, they answer the phone and tell the caller they can’t pay attention right now, they’re busy. The caller will need to call again. Or wait for them to remember to call back. Either way, the message to the caller is clear—this was the caller’s mistake. The caller shouldn’t have called now. This is not a good time.

Ouch again.

I believe that we learn etiquette from our grandparents.  As families became more mobile, moving around the country, grandparents weren’t always close enough to give guidance. 

But even in my theory there’s a glitch. Our grandparents didn’t know from cell phones! They didn’t imagine this ubiquitous tool with a proclivity for interruption. They didn’t know we’d need to be taught that we’re not Pavlov’s dogs. We don’t have to salivate when we hear the ring.

In what may be the cruelest twist of irony, I had a conversation with  I HUNG UP WITH A PAYING CUSTOMER TO ANSWER YOUR CALL 48 hours later. Let’s call this PowerCore Member Q. The Team has not given Q any referrals. Q thinks it may be because of the composition of the Team. Or perhaps because of the size of the Team. Or it could be the meeting day. Or the location. Or maybe everyone is referring to a previous Member instead.  None of these things (fortunately) are under Q”s control. 

Answering the phone would be.