I secretly long for simpler times.
It seems as though every time I turn around there is a new app, social media site begging for your attention. They are always proclaiming it as the newest best thing.
I was in a meeting just the other day, and the question that was posed to the group was, what’s the best way to keep in contact? The first response was, “Email”. I was definitely on board with that one. Another person blurted out “Facebook”. I felt a slight furrow in my brow and immediately glanced left and right to see what other person possessed a quizzical look. Another said, LinkedIn. Another person began to sell everyone (except me of course) on the benefits of Whatsapp. Glancing at my phone’s latest notification telling me that I needed to free up some memory…. This was not going to be an option.
We are living in an era of uber accomodation. Everybody wants to have it their way. Everyone has their “preferred method” of communication. Most of the population hasn’t even caught up to the standard mode of professional communication–email. But leaders are increasingly having to adapt to all of these new modes of communication. Is there a point where you need to draw a line in the sand?
I’ve noticed differences in communication among the generations and even socio-economic statuses. By no means a science, I have only observed that younger college graduates are wanting to connect over Facebook or Instagram. The occasional rarity mentions Twitter. Those entering into the workforce, proudly ask if you’re “on LinkedIn”. People with only a high school diploma working for minimum wage jobs, repeatedly ask if I can ” text them”. Most white collar workers are glued to their emails all day with intermittent conference calls.
Admittedly, I am a Millenial on the major social media sites, and “on email”, but I am becoming wornout as new responsibilities land on my plate. I think others are too. Have you ever have a friend needing to take a “social media break?” As I look at my personal phone at this moment, I count 19 – phone notifications, many of them being text messages, missed calls, or social media notifications within the past hours. This does not even counts my work phone.
I wish there were an “app” that pushed every notification to an email or one centralized location of your choosing. I’ve tried the Tim Ferris approach of checking email only twice per day and not letting email dictate by to-do list entirely. But now my latest and greatest method of managing notifications is to ignore them which is unfortunate because I miss messages and ‘could be great’ relationships are affected. We just don’t have the time. Determining how to best manage this is a constant struggle. I do not have the answers….yet.
How do you mange excessive notifications?
