The onslaught of multiple technical communication options in the work place has forced companies to set guidelines to help employees reset communicating expectations. How did we arrive at such a techno driven environment?Clutching Computer

In the 1830s, a man named Samuel Morse, popularized a device called the telegraph that allowed fellow human beings to communicate, by dotting and dashing without actually having to face the other person. Forty-six years later Alexander Graham Bell patented the telephone, an invention that allowed human beings to communicate without using the Morse code, but still preserving the idea of not being in the same room with the other communicator.

In 2015 Twitter, Facebook, Outlook, Hotmail, Gmail, LinkedIn, Instagram, Tumblr, YouTube, Skype, FaceTime, Snapchat, Pinterest, texting and cellphones, (cell telegraphs never really caught on) have offered numerous possibilities of communicating, by again ensuring you do not have to be in the same room as that other person. Clearly the motivation of advancement of each of these communication technologies was to ensure the communicator was never interrupted by the other and inconveniently asked to get their fellow conversationalist a glass of water.

How does one manage the multiple distractions technology continues to impose as we each try to get through our working day? The obvious answer to solve this is to Google this question and read the thousands of answers you will receive from this search. Frightening statistics show that about 64% of your employees visit non-work related websites everyday. YouTube is probably viewed more often than employee’s yearly objectives. Now if one of your objectives is to watch more YouTube, your manager will support this practice. Phones dinging, during meetings has become the soundtrack of the new business world.

There is no real solution to combat the ever-increasing assault of new technologies at the workplace, however progressive companies are establishing strict guidelines to help staff manage this brave new techno world.

  1. No social media during work time. Breaks and lunch are exceptions to this rule.
  2. All cellphones are turned off during meetings. One dollar is donated to company charity when one violates this rule
  3. After a third email on the same subject, one is encouraged to phone or simply walk over to the senders office / cubicle to gain the proper clarity
  4. Try to avoid non-critical emails after business hours or on weekends. This idea must be modeled consistently by the manager for any chance of success.
  5. The concept of work life balance begins with you. Every tweet, post and “like” infringes on your precious family time and personal life.

As a slightly older businessperson, I am more than amused by the resistance for face-to-face conversations as the optimal forum to gain understanding. Studies continue to support that body language and tone deliver superior information versus the words, yet this now seems to be the final option for healthy communication. Embrace new technologies but don’t hug them. Hugging is for the people your really care for.