Has Being Tech Savvy Drained Your Time

It is almost an oxymoron to say business people today are big users of the new technology but struggle to balance personal and professional demands on their time. Wait … isn’t that what the technology is for, to help us be more productive in less time so we have better balanced lives. Yes, but it seems that this “tech rich” element has a “time poor” issue they are unable to translate well regarding the potential of technology to increase personal productivity.

What has been discovered is that from Internet use to cell phones to wireless devices (tablets, computers, etc.), technology is everywhere in the workplace. But there is clear data that reveals that individuals don’t have the skills to derive the true productivity potential from this technology.

Tech Stress

It is true that technology has accelerated the pace of work … but it has also contributed to longer working hours and in doing so has generated higher levels of stress. Some call this “tech stress” in that many in their rush to acquire the newest and latest technology tools, haven’t had time to adapt and actually learn the true workings of their new tech environment.  And heaven forbid if we should admit that after having the latest and greatest devices that we don’t really know how to use them efficiently.  Some call this the “amnesia of management skills.”

The reality is that technology on its own won’t improve one’s productivity. If technology was enabling people to be more productive in less time, why do people generally feel so overwhelmed and underproductive? The short answer is they don’t really know how to make the technology they have work for them to its maximum efficiency. Instead, they have become slaves to technology or are afraid of it … or afraid of not being current. For those who have jumped into the tech world it seems like they have become slaves to technology … it’s making them busier but not necessarily more productive or happier in their work.

Can’t Get No Satisfaction

The basic culprit is that the makers of the technology have made it so inviting to purchase the devices and businesses have spent large amounts of money on technology, but have not properly or adequately provided the training in order for the technologies to be used at their maximum capacity. Hence many use the surface capabilities of the technology but don’t come close to maximizing their uses and capabilities. Most people are left to their own initiatives to learn how things work. Once they learn the basics and can surf around, they stop delving into learning more because it is complex and it is time consuming … and it just isn’t fun to some to have to dig into some of that deep “geeky stuff.”

An online survey found that 60% of respondents feel stressed at least two days or more a week … and only 5% felt a sense of personal accomplishment at the end of their workday. In essence, more stress than satisfaction.  Furthermore, over 40% acknowledged that the technology was not helping them achieve their personal goals even though they enjoyed the technology … and more than 25% felt they had to get and use the new technology just to keep up with the ever-changing technology trends. Does this make for a good ROI for the individual … or for the business? (Answer: Neither)

Have we been duped?

Today’s technology has made us all accessible at any time … and business likes this … as do the technology gods. This has blurred the lines between professional and personal lives due to the cell phone, tablets, computers, and the wireless explosion. And the reality is that our personal lives are the losers. The urge to be trendy has resulted in making us all accessible 24/7 … and is creating an addiction to technology.

The key is to learn as much about your technology devices as you possibly can and use it with the “intention” to be more productive in such a way that you have a well-balanced business and personal life. Then make a commitment to learn its real capabilities instead of just the basic email, surf internet, etc.

How is your technology IQ?

© Phil Hoffman 2013. All rights reserved

How to Build a Management Team – Part 5 of a Series

Subtitle: The Chief IT Officer (CIO)

Choosing and identifying a talented Chief Information Officer (sometimes titled Chief Technology Officer) can seem like a daunting and challenging task for an entrepreneur who is not up to speed or conversant when it comes to new technology … and we all know IT is changing and expanding constantly. That is exactly why it is important to have a smart and well informed CIO as a key player on your management team as early on as possible in your new company as it is growing and expanding its footprint.

Requires Big Picture Thinking

Once you start thinking about filling this position it is important that you assess your company’s short- and long-term technology needs and objectives. You will need to identify the areas where your technology is strong, as well as your vulnerabilities. You need to ponder the job description for a while seeking help from other entrepreneurs you know (friends), management, and possibly an outside consultant or recruiter that specializes in IT. You need to determine your No. 1 Goal … will it be to build and maintain a website (or series of them), or to manage and protect a large volume of valuable customer data or engineering data, etc. Will this position juggle software development projects and new product launches or will you outsource these functions … also hardware needs for the future, etc.? If you answered yes to most or all of these possibilities, then maybe you need to take extra time rethinking and resetting your priorities since getting your startup up and going. This is an important and expensive decision that needs big picture thinking while considering short-term goals and long-term objectives.

One of the “unspoken” areas of concern in this area is will this person have more control of the company than you do. And this is not an unusual thought process and should be addressed openly with forthright understanding with everyone who is helping you as well as the person you decide to hire. One important thing you need to remember when it comes to hiring for this position is that you should not expect this person to be a superhero … if so, they most likely will never meet your expectations.

Clearly Depict Your Vision

You must keep in mind that the key to producing great results in IT depends in large part on your ability to chart a strategic vision for the business. This requires you to be able to set and explain a clear interpretation of your vision of what your plan is for the company to achieve in the next 3 years … 5 years … 10 years … and what technology you envision to accomplish these goals. This will be hard but very important when investing significant dollars in technology for people, hardware, software, systems, programs, consultants, etc. for achieving your goals and objectives for the company.

Confident and Excited

When you take the time to make the right choices and decisions you will be confident and excited for what you have put together and will look forward to hiring the lead IT person and implementing the system/hardware. The right decision for the CIO position will be as big as any decision you make in choosing your management team. I always suggest that when hiring key management positions (actually for any position); look for work ethic as the number one ingredient. Someone with work ethic is a worker, a doer, a fixer, and a thinker who is always scheming how to do better with a commitment for excellence and teambuilding. A good IT person should be able to put IT terminology into easy to understand layman terms. Don’t expect yourself or other management team members to adjust to the IT lingo … look for a CIO who can confidently explain and communicate. Do not settle for anything less.

What has been your experience when hiring the top IT person?

Next: Part 6 – CEO

© Phil Hoffman 2012. All rights reserved