Use (Don't Abuse) Technology

I'm not sure if I am in the minority by saying this but I have noticed that some of the people in my life have developed an unnatural attachment to technology.  They're emailing and texting while they're driving, they consume more Facebook content than soak in their surroundings, and the mobile phone has become the window into the world outside of them.  They seem to be missing out on the natural connections that, in my opinion, fuel our humanity.

Please don't misunderstand me.  What I'm saying is not that technology doesn't have a very large role in the evolution of our culture (obviously, it does) but rather that it wasn't intended to replace vital interpersonal interactions.  It was meant to augment those relationships.  Many people are no longer picking up the phone for a quick conversation but rather texting.  ATM's are replacing the friendly faces of tellers.  And libraries have become archaic only to be replaced by the leviathan we know as Google.

Believe me, this trend extends beyond a nosy ex-girlfriend digging into your Facebook and other common methods of cyber-stalking.  It is bleeding over into the way we, as modern humans, treat business.  As my company continues its march towards modernization, I do my best to remind us all that we are social animals that need face-time (not the app), hand-shakes, and facial expressions.  We should use the technologies we have around us to enhance how we communicate, not supplement it.

For example, we recently installed video conferencing equipment in our primary conference room.  With it, we expect that we can help bridge the gap between our company and some of our out-of-state clients.  Typically, we reserve it specifically for those with whom we only have conversations on the phone.  By restricting our use of video conferencing, we ensure that those clients that have always been another voice on the phone can now become a face and those with whom we do business in person remain that way.  It would taking a step backwards to reduce a usually in-person relationship to a small camera and microphone.

I believe another simple line of communication has been lost in recent years.  It's a simple gesture.  It is the hand-written letter.  So often, we send out our "thank you's" electronically.  Our email is received only to be displayed in a drab, serif window among the clutter of hundreds of other tidbits of communication.  With a hand-written letter, we choose our words more wisely, introduce our flavor of English, and deliver something that stands out in a time of inboxes and monitors.  And for anybody that has spent a great deal of time away from home, the textures, smells, and personal touch of a letter can make one's day.

Technology can be a tremendous asset for business.  It can make communication much more personal especially with those far away.  It can expedite processes, increase productivity, and make a subway commute an opportunity for responding to emails and market research.  However, just like it can in our personal lives, it can remove us from the necessity of human connection.  We should consider how it is we prefer our relationships to be managed and use that as a compass for how we interact with others.