Tania Khadder | Excelle
Technology is a beautiful thing. One that many of us can’t imagine doing our jobs without.
But be careful. Sometimes, overindulgence in the latest tools might actually hinder your performance.
We’ve identified five ways your iPhone, BlackBerry, Facebook, and that endless information superhighway could make you worse at your job.
Instant message is twisting your words (and making you lazy)
Remember when email revolutionized business communication? All of a sudden, memos were obsolete, no one knew where the fax machine was anymore (or how to use it), and conference calls were set up only on an as-needed basis. Office workers everywhere rejoiced in their newfound efficiency.
But the email revolution was just the tip of the iceberg. In the past few years, instant messaging has become an acceptable intra-office communication tool and, in many ways, we should be grateful for its emergence. It’s faster, less formal, and more interactive than email and yet it lacks the commitment face-to-face or over-the-phone interaction demands. The perfect formula, right? Wrong.
There are just too many misunderstandings when body language, vocal intonation, and facial expressions are left out of a conversation. Plus, how many times has a chat about something work-related degenerated into an all-out gossip marathon.
When all you have to do is share a link or ask a quick question, by all means, send an IM. For most everything else, though, it’s a no-no. Get off your lazy butt and start talking to each other.
