Phubbing: What Is It and Why It's an Authority-Killer

You’re sitting in a meeting, nodding along as your colleague presents quarterly results. On the table in front of you, your phone buzzes. Without thinking, you glance down—just for a second—to check Slack. You tell yourself it’s multitasking.

Few notice it consciously, but everyone registers the shift.

This is phubbing—snubbing people by looking at your phone instead. It’s so common in workplaces that few name it. But phubbing’s impact on teams is deeper than you think.

What is Phubbing?

Phubbing is a portmanteau of “phone” and “snubbing.” It describes the act of ignoring someone in favour of your device. The term was coined in 2012 by Australian advertisers to highlight how phone use erodes social connection. Since then, it has spread from dinner tables and cafes into offices and boardrooms.

At work, phubbing often masquerades as efficiency. A quick glance at Slack during a meeting. A discreet scroll through emails while someone presents. The behaviour seems harmless—efficient, even. But at its core, phubbing signals that something else is more important than the person in front of you. In leadership, that message carries weight.

Why Phubbing Happens at Work

Few leaders set out to ignore their teams. Yet phubbing has become routine in workplaces. Why?

Partly, it is the nature of work itself. As Erin Farrell Talbot, a PR consultant, observes, managing multiple clients means constant vigilance for media inquiries, emails, and texts. But she adds: “I make a conscious effort to put the phone down and be present. I know the phone will be there when the meeting is over.” The line between vigilance and distraction is thin—but it is a choice.

There is also the illusion of productivity. Checking Slack mid-meeting feels efficient. In reality, it fractures focus and signals disinterest. As Sue Kohn-Taylor, a leadership coach, puts it: “Let’s be real—we’ve all done it, but this isn’t about shaming. It’s about being intentional.” She recommends putting your phone face down or away. “If something is truly urgent, it will find another way to reach you.”

Finally, phubbing thrives in meetings that lack purpose. When agendas are vague or contributions ignored, attention drifts to the digital. Meetings that matter less invite behaviour that shows it.

Phubbing is rarely about malice. More often, it is a symptom: of overloaded work cultures, poorly run meetings, and the quiet erosion of human attention.

The Hidden Costs of Phubbing

Phubbing might seem trivial. A glance at Slack. A quick email reply. But its effects on team dynamics are anything but.

Jennifer Maxson, a leadership coach, argues that effective meetings start with intentional preparation and presence. “When leaders are distracted, it sets the tone for everyone else. People stop engaging because they think no one is listening,” she notes. In other words, attention is contagious—both its presence and its absence.

Larry Pfaff, an executive coach, frames it in terms of what he calls “the psychological contract.” Meetings, he argues, are not just about exchanging information but about building trust. When leaders phub their teams, they signal that other priorities matter more. Over time, that erodes credibility and weakens relationships.

Phubbing is rarely about malice. More often, it is a symptom: of overloaded work cultures, poorly run meetings, and the quiet erosion of human attention.

Beyond trust, there is the cost to decision-making. Partial attention leads to partial understanding. Strategic nuances are missed. Risks go unflagged. The meeting ends, but its purpose is only half fulfilled.

Phubbing also undermines cultural norms. Organisations spend millions training managers to listen, empathise, and coach. Yet nothing undermines these efforts faster than a leader scrolling their phone while asking for input. The message is clear: what you say matters less than what I see on this screen.

Small gestures shape workplace culture. Phubbing is one that chips away at respect, moment by moment.

How Leaders Can Stop Phubbing

If phubbing is so corrosive, why do leaders keep doing it?

Habit, yes—but also a lack of better alternatives. Breaking the cycle requires intentional design.

Leadership coaches recommend the simplest intervention: remove temptation. Putting your phone face down or out of sight eliminates its pull. Staying present is about prioritising people over notifications—a conscious choice that sets cultural tone.

Preparation matters too. Jennifer Maxson emphasises that effective meetings start before anyone walks into the room. An agenda, clear roles, and a stated purpose keep conversations sharp and relevant. When meetings are meaningful, distractions lose their grip.

Larry Pfaff underlines modelling. Leaders who remain attentive demonstrate that full attention is expected. Conversely, those who phub give tacit permission for everyone else to disengage.

Finally, presence is a discipline that compounds. Leaders who treat attention as currency signal respect—every time they put their phone away.

Is Phubbing Quietly Killing Your Authority?

Phubbing may seem harmless—a flick of the thumb, a quick glance at a notification. But leadership is built in these small moments. Teams read them. Culture absorbs them.

In an age obsessed with efficiency, presence has become a competitive advantage. Meetings where people feel heard produce better ideas. Leaders who stay attentive build credibility with every conversation.

The question is not whether you phub. You do. The real question is: How much authority are you giving away each time you do?

Respect is rarely lost through grand failures. More often, it slips away, one unnoticed glance at a screen at a time.