Communications technologies date back to the formation of alphabets to writing utensils, but they’ve drastically improved over the past couple decades. Advancements including mobile technology, WiFi, and Cloud Computing (Leadpile blog) have had a huge impact on the way we can do business anywhere and anytime. These instant communication abilities have changed the way people interact both positively and negatively in the workplace. While technology may increase productivity in some fashion it may also become a distraction if it cannot be utilized correctly.
Businesses are able to increase performance and the scope of their reach with the use of information and communications technology. No longer are we limited to operate in a specific geographic area and rely on word of mouth to spread information about our businesses. We can publish websites, blogs and business profiles on LinkedIn, Facebook & Twitter to name a few. Holding meetings with worldwide partners is simplified through online conferencing like Skype or Google Hangouts.
Inside the office, employees communicate via instant messaging services or e-mail to send quick notes with updates or to schedule meetings. These same things can be done outside the office with the help of smart phones, laptops and tablets. The initial reaction to having access to work materials at the touch of a button is a positive one when it comes to production capacity.
But are there costs to having instant access to your work anywhere and anytime of the day? How about the interruptions this may cause during your workday or even your personal time?
The incessant “ding” from your instant messenger or e-mail client to the constant chatter of a telephone call, these technologies that were designed to help you be more efficient may actually do the opposite. No longer do we make decisions or have conversations face to face, oftentimes these are left to email or instant message that take away from the personalization of the workplace. If employees are not able to multi-task efficiently or set aside certain times during the day to respond to e-mails or phone calls, they may find it harder to focus on one thing and get it done. Instead of reacting immediately to a new message or e-mail, it may be more beneficial to schedule an hour at the beginning and end of your day to respond to any messages you may have missed.
In a society that is steadily fighting off stimuli that cause us to be distracted, it takes great effort to remain focused on what’s happening in real-time. It’s time we pay some attention to whether or not we are getting the most out of the technology we have or if its acting as a detriment to our productivity. Simple changes to the way we use these tools can be very beneficial in helping us better perform our job functions.
