My typical work day starts with me logging into my computer and checking e-mails. On an average I typically have at least 20 e-mails that require some type of action from me. As I begin to respond and act on e-mails a little icon begins to blink at the bottom of my screen. I have to stop what I am doing and click on it immediately. There is a co-worker that is instant messaging me a request. So I now hop off the e-mails and start to work on the instant message. The phone begins to ring and it is the customer on the phone needing something e-mailed to them immediately. Once again, I stop what I am working on for the instant messaging and open my e-mail to send out the customer’s request. Since I am in the e-mail window pane, I continue
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I recently attended a four day training where the first item on the agenda was to close down our work laptops and turn off work phones. This was an unusual request at work. In general we all walk around with our laptops from one meeting to the next and some with their work phones. In a meeting we are all constantly checking our e-mails and instant messaging others in relation to topics being discussed in the meeting but more often than not related to other work related tasks. The attention given to those whom coordinated the meeting is limited. Often times a question is asked to be repeated as a result of someone not paying attention initially. In a class environment this type of behavior is not acceptable. However, at work this is the norm. This is also becoming the norm in face to face conversations with family and friends. The article discusses the lack of commitment to an activity or conversation as a result of receiving a phone call or text message. The general populations walks around with cellphones readily accessible. Now in days when a call or message is received, the expectation is to respond immediately. This causes a distraction if you were in the middle of a conversation with someone in person. Acknowledging the call or message doesn’t seem to be a decision rather an automatic reaction. The need to see why the light is blinking on the phone is similar to that of an addiction. This addiction impedes our ability to focus on the task or conversation at hand further indicating the effects of
I recently attended a four day training where the first item on the agenda was to close down our work laptops and turn off work phones. This was an unusual request at work. In general we all walk around with our laptops from one meeting to the next and some with their work phones. In a meeting we are all constantly checking our e-mails and instant messaging others in relation to topics being discussed in the meeting but more often than not related to other work related tasks. The attention given to those whom coordinated the meeting is limited. Often times a question is asked to be repeated as a result of someone not paying attention initially. In a class environment this type of behavior is not acceptable. However, at work this is the norm. This is also becoming the norm in face to face conversations with family and friends. The article discusses the lack of commitment to an activity or conversation as a result of receiving a phone call or text message. The general populations walks around with cellphones readily accessible. Now in days when a call or message is received, the expectation is to respond immediately. This causes a distraction if you were in the middle of a conversation with someone in person. Acknowledging the call or message doesn’t seem to be a decision rather an automatic reaction. The need to see why the light is blinking on the phone is similar to that of an addiction. This addiction impedes our ability to focus on the task or conversation at hand further indicating the effects of