“Powering Off” or “Power Relating to?”

Do you take your laptop on vacation? Do you in some cases “hate” your cellular phone or your Blackberry? Harris Interactive lately reported that one-third of vacationers take their laptops on vacation. Throughout a Sunday meal at a restaurant lately, I observed a man sitting with his family talking on his cellular phone -- certainly about business enterprise. He was not happy - neither was his family!

To paraphrase Charles Dickens, “It will be the finest of times. It really is the worst of instances.” Certainly that applies on the subject of “connectivity.” Stories of 9-11 victims getting able to communicate with family members members within the last minutes of their lives warmed my heart, even though the story my buddy told of her mother answering her cellular phone within the delivery room in the course of the birth of her grandchild chilled my soul.

How grateful I was for my cell phone when I came across a young woman stalled on an interstate without having 1, and I could right away get assist. How convenient it's on holiday to work with the web to discover the choices for entertainment in the location on a rainy afternoon, and get directions to find it very easily. How comforting to know that my family can reach me in situation of an emergency - or one thing to celebrate! -- no matter exactly where I am in the world. Exactly the same can be mentioned for my colleagues.

So here’s the query: Should you take your laptop on vacation? Should really your cellular phone be on 24/7? Clients usually ask, “What should really I do?” My answer: “That’s the wrong query. The query is “What will you do?” Possibly an even improved question will be “What would you like to do?” Perhaps the best question of all is “What action will bring you the most effective outcomes?” In an effort to answer that query, you have to take the time to answer “What ARE your very best results?”

Repeatedly I have emphasized that one definition of “organization” is “controlling the issues you are able to control, so you can cope together with the points you can’t.” Within the complex planet in which we reside, specifically together with the degree of connectivity readily available, it is easy to fall into the trap of feeling that we're victims of other individuals. I cringe when someone complains about having to answer their cellular phone. Says who? For those who do not need to be reached, you could “power off.” Should you have to become reachable since your job calls for it, then the question may perhaps be “Am I in the ideal job?” Or, have you simply trained individuals that you are “always readily available.” Customer service is terrific, however it doesn’t require response. It demands excellent communication. It is highly frustrating to leave a message and get no response for days, but couple of situations would suffer if the response came 1 hour later so you could have lunch having a colleague without interruption.

Connectivity might be addictive. My daughter, who has her PhD in counseling, reminded me that an addiction is a thing that reduces the excellent of your life along with the folks about you.

So what does all this have to do with productivity? My passion is helping people and organizations develop and sustain a productive environment so every person can accomplish their operate and take pleasure in their lives. When employed appropriately, connectivity does assist you to accomplish your operate and allow you to play. It can also undermine your priorities at operate, destroy your well being, and poison your relationships when utilized inappropriately.

The situation will not be whether you take your laptop on vacation or leave your cellular phone on 24/7. For some individuals, the capability to check e-mail the moment every day on vacation brings peace of thoughts and can be completed when other individuals are sleeping or swimming. For others, the entire idea of a holiday will not be taking your laptop. There is no “right” or “wrong.” The query is no matter if your option is enhancing or diminishing your life and also the lives in the men and women around you.

So “Power Off” or “Power On?” - it’s genuinely up to you!

P.S. Something TO Take into consideration: Your ability to produce any connection extra valuable is getting able to discover the information and facts you'll need when you require it. Are you wasting useful time searching for what you need? Could you discover what other men and women within your workplace have if you required it? If not, fill out our Productive Atmosphere Scorecard, and we’ll offer you a no cost 30-minute telephone consultation to determine certain steps you are able to take to create sure that absolutely everyone inside your organization is taking the appropriate action at the correct time using the right details.


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