Blackberry Or “Crackberry?”06/11/07Blackberry Or “Crackberry?”I don’t know about you but since I decided to have a PDA I find myself addicted to the continual need - or desire (I am not sure which!) - to access emails outside of work. Of course there are some great benefits with the opportunity of catching-up on emails on the train, or when you are on the hoof to meetings... But there are some big drawbacks. With more and more communication being conducted by email, I sadly find it difficult to put the PDA down in the evenings, and I have even been known to check them whilst on holiday. So are we now becoming inadvertedly stressed and worn-down by the addictive use of these hi-tech machines? An article in Personnel Today seems to think so:
Excessive emails and the use of the “Crackberry” seem to be make us feel the need and expectation (as well as for me the addiction) to check and respond to emails 24/7. So let me know your thoughts - do you lay on the beach emailing work to say you are having a nice time - or find yourself responding to emails and the demands of your business?
Comments, Pingbacks:
Comment from: Scott McArthur [Visitor]
These things are dangerous - ban them ban them all and lets start talking to each other again!
 Permalink
16/11/07 @ 01:41
Comment from: Moya Hayhurst [Visitor]
I was at a conference earlier this year with delegates
from all around the world. What horrified me was that at 11H00 South African time, in the middle of a conversation over a glass of very good South African wine an associate kept on pulling out his blackberry and replying to e-mails. When I queried this very bad habit his answer was "Well this is my 7th blackberry as my missus keeps throwing them at the wall" which sadly indicates that we weren't the only ones experiencing this sad state of affairs. Blackberries are good for business during business hours, but should be switched off when finish work for the day. Customers do not expect you to reply when they find themselves working late as those e-mail responses are only expected in the morning. However, if you do reply you will be creating an expectation that you'll always reply and this will be abused. Your family also need your time and attention. Permalink
26/11/07 @ 15:05
Comment from: Ian Buckingham [Visitor]
· http://www.by2w.co.uk
I think we all know someone like the person in SA described earlier. But I suspect they were ever thus i.e. they typed while on the phone, didn't really listen when in conversation or took texts throughout meetings. Why? Because we let them get away with it.The Blackberry suite is just the latest manifestation of their rude habits.
It's great having these tools-but they are just that, tools, and regardless of their attractions the fact remains, we're still in control. If I decide I want some time with my family I won't answer the phone or even the door if we're focused on something else. If it was really that important the "caller" would make it clear. It reminds me of management "in tray" exercises of old. Remember how you were taught how to prioritise and to shuffle non scheduled, non priority items to the bottom of the pile and chance are they would simply "go away". Just because we have "the latest tool" doesn't mean we're slaves to it. We can all put them on silent or even "turn them off" and schedule time to review and respond. Let's face it - in real emergencies we can always be contacted and how often do they arise? No-one's that indispensable, and if we think we are, a problems flagging itself somewhere! I think the real issue is our behaviour at times and not the tools themselves and the best way to respond to rude behaviour is to have the courage to mention the "elephant in the room" and, chances are, it will go away. Anyone in a facilitation or training role knows the value of setting boundaries, particularly when someone is paying good money for your time. Ian www.by2w.co.uk Permalink
13/12/07 @ 11:06 Leave a comment:
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