I was speaking with one of my clients yesterday about his business industry and how it has changed in the last 10 years. He went on to say the demands day-to-day have increased due to technology. He is expected to respond to request s quicker from potential clients because as a society we have accepted that since email, text, and cell phone communication is instant that a response should also be instant. If we don’t respond in a timely matter our potential client will move on to the competition. This pressure can get in the way of other parts of the job that need to be performed.

I have coached clients on how the response to technology will affect performance. If everytime your cell phone rings you get frustrated or it distracts you from what you are doing, then you have a performance breakdown. Technology is here and you are not going to change it. You can manage how your business utilizes technology and put systems in place where you are not solely responsible for all incoming communication. The most important aspect of technology is your response to the increased demands. My client sees technology as a way to work harder and smarter, while other people look at it as a necessary evil. Be clear on how you define it and see if you can define it in a way that empowers you.