People who think they can review papers, open mail, check their messages, or the like are sending a very powerful message that the speaker just isn't important enough to listen to. You will be seen as a winner when people know you appreciate them and what they have to say. Check your motives before you speak. Especially when there is a lot of stress or emotions are running high, the temptation is to shoot from the hip with whatever comes to mind. Sometimes this leads to negative or caustic comments that only serve to fan the fire of conflict or wound those present.
Winners check their motives before they open their mouths.
If the remark is demeaning, critical, negative, self-serving, or otherwise unproductive, they will hold the remark and formulate something different to say. Don't say anything unproductive unless that is consistent with your overall motive. And if you find that your motives are negative, it's probably time to take a time-out and reassess the situation. The mark of a winning communicator is that they will skip the quick retort and give a productive response instead. Be consistently honest.