Technology is a wonderful thing and I want to use it as much as possible to maximize my ability to accomplish both professional and personal goals. However, there are times when technology, especially my smartphone, hinders me from being an effective leader and difference maker.
Back in the summer, I dropped my phone in a pool. This is one of the occupational hazards of working at a waterpark. It was late in the day and my local iphone repair shop was closed, which meant I would have to go an entire evening without having my phone. (gasp!) The next day I took my phone in and due to the extreme water damage, it would take at least a day to try to fix it. Now, I would be on the verge of going 24 hours without my phone. (Can we say cruel and unusual punishment!) The next day, the repair shop informs me that my phone cannot be fixed and I would have to get a new one. After purchasing a new phone and getting it setup, my phone-less epidemic was finally over. In total, I probably went about 48 hours without having a phone and to make matters worse, this is was in my busiest time of the year, the summer.
Once I checked the texts and phone calls I missed, you know what I realized? I really didn’t miss out on anything and I learned some valuable leadership lessons in the process. Here are a few areas that leaders must fight in our information saturated world…
Copyright: zzoplanet / 123RF Stock Photo
Leaders Fight The Tyranny of the Urgent
In high school I read a short pamphlet entitled Tyranny of the Urgent by Charles E. Hummel. (It’s very similar to Stephen Covey’s time management matrix.) Both of these resources point out that we are bombarded by “urgent” tasks and problems that stop us from accomplishing the truly important things in life, those things that require creativity, high level thinking, and deep focus. According to a Pyschology Today article, “one study found that office distractions eat an average 2.1 hours a day. Another study, published in October 2005, found that employees spent an average of 11 minutes on a project before being distracted. After an interruption it takes them 25 minutes to return to the original task, if they do at all.”
Not having my phone for those 48 hours actually helped me to be a better employee. I got more work done because I could concentrate on projects with minimal distraction. As leaders, we need to fight the bombardment of those urgent requests by setting aside time in our calendar where we turn off the phone or at least put it on “do not disturb” so we can focus on those higher level projects.
Leaders Fight To Be on the Present
According to author Laura Vanderkam in her book What the Most Successful People Do At Work, she says, “According to Lookout, the mobile-security firm, 58% of smart phone users say they don’t go an hour without checking their phones. And not just waking hours. Lookout reported that 54 percent of smart phone users check their phones while lying in bed. Almost 40% say they check their phones on the toilet. Some 9% admit to checking their phones during religious services.” Basically, we are constantly on our phones.
Not having my phone caused me to rethink how I use my time. I didn’t have the option to my pull my phone out while I was waiting in line at the grocery store. I wasn’t interrupted by a text when I was meeting with my staff at work. I was forced to be more engaged when grabbing dinner with some friends since I couldn’t fill the dead space by perusing my social media accounts. Presence is powerful and there are times when my smartphone distracts me being fully there. We cannot effectively make a difference in those around us if we are not fully engaged. This is why leaders fight to be in the moment when they are with others and minimize those distractions that would cause them to miss out on those potential difference-making opportunities. (I write more about the power of presence here.)
Leaders Fight to Maximize Their Energy
According to a Fox News article, “Researchers at Brigham & Women’s Hospital in Boston found that blue light—the kind emitted by tablets, cell phone, e-readers and other devices—disrupts the body’s natural circadian rhythms, making it harder to get a good night’s rest.” Over time most of us will not be effective in our job and serving our family/friends if we do replenish our energy by getting adequate rest. Not having my phone caused me to change-up my evening routine. Instead of getting in bed and spending 30 minutes looking at sport’s scores and highlights, I read a book for about 15 minutes and then went to bed. Since this time, I have incorporated this into my evening routine. I am hardly ever on my phone when I’m getting ready for bed. I think this routine has helped me to get to sleep quicker, which helps in my fight to maximize my energy for the next day. (I write more about how to rest well here.)
Tweetable Lesson:
We cannot effectively make a difference in those around us if we are not fully present
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What are some ways your smartphone is distracting you from being effective? What is one change you can make today to combat this?