The intersection of technology and psychology at work: PART 1

Technology undoubtedly has immensely changed the way people live and work. I mean I can talk and see someone who can be in another country with a different time zone with ease in communication and time lapse. However as much as technology can be it can also promote laziness, mental fatigue and create a culture of self-obsession especially with social media.

According to studies by psychologists, neurobiologists and educators indicate that when we go online, we enter an environment that endorses cursory reading, hurried and distracted thinking, and superficial learning.

I am in the tech industry but I always still try my best to see people face to face and do things myself in order to keep my mind active and fluid at all times. It is unbelievable that in many work environments people may be sitting next to each other yet sending each other emails that may take longer to receive than actually talking to the person sitting next to you.

Technology may sure make our lives simpler and easier but nothing can ever replace the human nature of face to face interaction and doing things using your own effort, talent and skills.

But with all the knowledge we could ever need at our fingertips, are we outsourcing our memory to the internet?

Whether you are entrepreneur, leader or top employee you still need to be in constant physical communication with your people as doing things online does not always solve problems of time and productivity. This notion of doings things one click away can turn into people putting their work away by hiding it in disguise online.

I recall an article I read about former US president Abraham Lincoln who spent hours each day outside of his presidential office. During his time he personally visited military hospitals and went to to check on the battlefields with the soldiers as a way of gathering information and a natural point a view of things. The point is that he recognized the value and importance of meeting people in their own playing field likewise to elevate your career you need to visit and meet people you need to connect with face to face no matter what.

The key is to fully utilize working both online and offline cause they both are inter -dependent on each other as back in the pre-internet days if someone asked you a tricky question you couldn’t just go to google or got to wikipedia. You literally had to physically go to the library or ask someone who might know.

Make sure you always increase the speed and activeness of your mind by not neglecting the offline experiences of gathering knowledge and skills as they are invaluable.

“You may think that what you’d like to recapture from your youth is your looks, your physical fitness, your simple pleasures, but what you really need is the fluidity of mind you once possessed.” — Robert Greene

Take advantage of this opportunity now which I am inviting you to an event where I will be speaking on 12 October 2016 talking further about the intersection of technology and psychology in our lives and work here are the details below for more information go to https://lnkd.in/d5tPVSs

See you there,

@amacmakaring

Andile Amac Makaring is a South African born entrepreneur with a background in organisational psychology and product management applying lean methodologies to unsolved problems. Makaring is a well respected, highly regarded master sales, media and technology person.