– Technology and Relationships

Technology – Is it Helping or Hindering Communication in your Workplace? Technology has forever changed the way humans interact, communicate, and work. We can now ‘ping’ a co-worker in China , send a proposal to Europe , and respond to urgent e-mails all while being stuck in traffic! These incredible technological advancements allow us to remain informed and ‘in the loop’ at all times. But at what cost does our desire for “instant access” come?

Sue Bethanis, Founder/CEO of Mariposa Leadership, Inc., states that, “People are simply becoming overwhelmed with information. Spending your entire morning cleaning out your inbox adds both stress and overwhelm to an already hectic day.” She goes on to add that, “Technology should be used to enhance human communication, not be used to replace it.”

She offers 3 keys to help make sure that technology is helping – not hindering – effective communication in your workplace.

1. Smoke Screen – Don’t hide behind technology. Sending an email or leaving a voice message when you know someone won’t be there only complicates things. Instead, use email for logistics and to help set up a phone call or in-person meeting.
2. Vary your Medium – Today’s workplaces are extremely diverse. Differing cultures, skill sets, and age groups require that information be delivered in a variety of formats. Make sure to promote communication that reaches all employees…not just the tech-savvy.
3. Be Clear and Concise – In order to be effective, email and virtual correspondence needs to be clear and concise. Clarify the W’s (who, what, where, when, and why) and be sure to state when and if a response is necessary. This will help minimize unnecessary back and forth.

Don’t let technology become your Achilles Heal. Instead, use it as a bridge to enhance effective communication in your workplace. When used properly, technology provides us a wealth of opportunity, but it’s up to leaders to set the tone for how technology is used, and not used in their businesses.