Is Technology Twittering Away Your Time and Work Life Balance?
| 26 November 2009
I have to admit, I am not the most technologically savvy of people in the world but at the same time I am not scared of using new technology. A lot of technological advances like mobile phones, I phones and Blackberries can greatly improve our productivity and work life balance but some applications in this time-poor society like texting, emailing and twittering seem to be adding to our workloads and dampening our productivity.
I recently referred to a local business organisation regarding a certain project. When the intended contact person wasn’t there I tried to arrange a suitable time to call back or at least, a time when they could return my call.
“It would be better if you emailed her about your proposal and then she will get back to you in due course,” insisted the secretary. I began to realise that many people and businesses prefer email contact rather than having an actual conversation with a person. Many say that it is more time-efficient and helps with business focus and productivity but does it really improve productivity?
I can certainly see how email is good for quick documentation of any agreements and is great for communicating to many people at a time. What I do have an issue with is when we communicate by default behind the cloak of technology when an actual conversation with someone could moves things forward more effectively. Technology gives us efficiency but does it really provide in effectiveness in creating outcomes? For example, in the situation I previously mentioned if the secretary took my number and said that the person will call me sometime tomorrow or later on in the day. I would have given her specific times when I would be free to take the call. Then a two minute conversation would have confirmed whether that organisation was interested in my project or not.
Feeling overloaded at work? Learn how to say ‘no’ by saying ‘yes’
| 03 November 2009
Having an enjoyable workplace and client base is a key to a well-run business, but for the sake of having a healthy work-life balance it is also important that the workload is evenly shared by the team. It is often the honest, reliable team member that everyone likes who often ends up being the one whose life is thrown out of balance by work overload.
Although the blame is regularly laid at the feet of over-demanding bosses, the workers who take on the extra duties are equally at fault.
Despite knowing that it is impossible to please others all the time, our desire to be liked and accepted by our peers is so great that many of us burn ourselves out trying to help others.
‘I have to admit I’m my own worst enemy,’ admitted Ruth, an overworked financial analyst for a top mutual fund. ‘When someone asks for help, I just don’t know how to say no and now I am taking on more than I can handle.’
It’s a scenario that is played out in virtually every small or large corporation and household in the country. Wanting to help others is an admirable trait but it inevitably leads to the ‘helper’ suffering from burnout and resentment.
So what do you do if a workmate or friend comes to you asking for help and you are fully engaged in important work of your own?