Technology and the ability to get information quickly has changed our lives in ways that we could have never imagined. “Google” has become a word that you hear on a regular basis when searching out information. There is a downside to technology though…it has caused people to be less engaged with each other.
You no longer have to leave your house to get groceries, food, products in stores, go to the bank or post office, hang out with your friends, watch a movie, find a date or go to an office to work. You can order things and they are delivered right to your door. You can bank and pay your bills online. You can buy a movie or binge watch shows for hours on demand. If you want to hang out with your friends, you can Facetime on your phone with them and it is like you are with them in person. People are dating more and more online trying to find the right match for them.
Look around at any place in public and you are seeing people constantly looking at their phones. You can see this on an airplane, waiting in line at the store to check out (if you don’t have your food delivered to you!), at the doctor’s office or in their cars. Basically all the time. iPhones now offer the ability to see how much of your time is spent looking at your phone. It is eye opening to see how large that number of hours can be.
Although technology is great, it is causing us to no longer have to talk to each other. This is happening personally and professionally. People will send an instant message, text or email to communicate information even if the person is sitting 5 feet away. Take the oppprtunity to have a real conversation with someone at your work. Be curious and see what you can learn about them or find something in common with them. Talking and engaging with people is important especially in an environment where you need each other to get work done. Will you accept the challenge to put your phone away and have 5 in-person conversations today? Let me know what happens. Did it make a difference in the relationship with that person?