Communications Overload - Fact Or Fiction?

The technology is great. Can you imagine not being able to use e-mail, scan, fax, pagers, cordless phones, mobile phones, an iPhone or BlackBerry? Nowadays they have a wide variety of ring tones, you can select different things to different people, that tells you who's calling before you answer the phone (or not respond). Some systems also announce the name of the caller, again, that lets you decide whether to answer or not. When computers first appeared, the number of injuries of the wrist and fingers of the stars. When I saw someone with an elastic bandage around supporting the hand and wrist, you knew that injury to the carpal tunnel is most likely the culprit. Today's technology bias is "Blackberry thumb". To see someone who is a regular user of a Blackberry or Treo can be wonderful. Answer e-mail, maintain contact, or messaging with your fingers flying. No wonder that some hotels offer massages to weary hand PDA users. Hyatt Regency Hotel in Scottsdale, AZ called the BlackBerry Balm Hand Massage. Blackberry, Treo, iPhone, other handhelds, iPods, cell phones, pagers and computers have made us accessible to everyone within and outside the workplace. That can not be such good news. Imagine this: You're at a staff meeting and noted that co-workers continue to use their laps throughout the session. Are you intrigued with a low-level hum coming and going. And, one wonders, can anyone be truly participative and productive in a meeting if it is "checking out" often to check your e-mails and messages? Or, you're in a restaurant and a warning that a nearby table is busy. Each person has a mobile phone text messages or talking to someone who is not a companion. Wondering why go together if you do not seem to want to talk to each other, but anyone remotely. Communication professionals no longer say that using the technology of mobile phones, PDAs, instant messaging, etc, can be added to the tension. The constant ringing, buzzing and vibrant appeal. Best to ignore, could be a crisis. It ends up being a slave of personal technology. And that's the problem, these communications are rarely generated because of a crisis. It's so easy to contact someone who is connected. These instruments until the end of convenience swallowing more of your time than you think. So how control technology devices today so you do not have control over you? Start with: • Realize that every time the team has announced a new email, your PDA beeps or vibrates your phone is probably not a crisis. It could be spam or a wrong number. You can be on your desk and can respond in minutes ... But should you? Enabling technology tools to interrupt will not be a smart thing to something. • Voicemail Make your friend, not to hide behind or a device that creates a path that the caller has to call the phone message or Treo. Instead, why not make a habit of changing his message a day, allowing the caller to know a time you check messages and return calls. • When you attend a meeting, attend and participate. Do not take your Blackberry on-is not invited. The same goes for the phone. You can return calls and check email, when the meeting is over. • Do not create unrealistic expectations for others in how to respond to emails. You can respond immediately to a couple of things. Without that it can make your co-workers in a bad light, which does not respond as fast as you do. Or you can say it is not enough work to do. In both cases, there is a good thing. Never underestimate the power and value of non-technical conversation. Of course, remote communication may be necessary at times. But the importance of sitting with an old style-in-one chat, or with the whole team, can not be neglected. If you are trying to solve a problem in the email conversation against live live conversation creates better results. Communication involves listening and watching the audience vocal tones, observing body language ... and yes, listening to the words. © 2009, All rights reserved. The Briles Group, Inc.