Technology, Communication and Leadership
There
are many different forms of communication.
We communicate through the written word, through speaking and singing,
we can even communicate without using words. Advancements in technology over time have
enriched the way that we communicate today.
It has taken the art of communication to a whole new level than we ever
thought possible. Before electricity and
automobiles, people depended on the written word to be delivered via horseback,
on foot, or even by ship to get messages to and from the recipient. This resulted in letters and other
correspondence that would not be received for days, weeks, or sometimes even
months. It’s hard to imagine in our day
and age of lightning speed communications how business ever got accomplished
with such a slow delivery system.
Technology has had a tremendous
impact on the way we communicate today.
Even in the past 20 years we have seen how interpersonal communications
have been greatly affected by advancements in technology. Before cellular telephones, people were
restricted to where and when they could speak to another person by phone. They could not simply call someone whenever
and wherever they chose. Before cell
phones, if someone wanted to make a call, they either had to wait until they
were at home or near a telephone, or if it was urgent, they could use a pay
phone to reach someone. Today, with cell
phones, we can contact whoever we need to, wherever and whenever we need to for
the most part. We no longer have to wait
until we are near a landline, or keep a roll of quarters in our purses or
pockets to contact someone about what’s for dinner, or what color that wall
paint was supposed to be. We can just
whip out the cell phone and we have contact!
It is almost mind blowing how convenient technology has made
interpersonal communication. We not only
have cellular phones, but we also have computers with the internet and email
capabilities. We even have “smart” phones that combine the features of a
computer and a cellular phone for increased communicating abilities at
lightning speed. These conveniences have
incredible advantages. Today, with these
technological advances, we can accomplish a lot more in less time and with less
hassle. For instance, with the “smart”
phones of today, we can hold conversations with more than one person at a
time. We can use the Bluetooth feature
to carry on a voice conversation, while checking our email or shopping online
and still be text messaging other people.
This may seem like information overload, but I believe the longer this
technology is around, the more it ingrains itself into our society. In the past several years alone we see more
and more people using cell phones, laptops and other items such as the Ipad everywhere
they go. In the airport, for instance,
one can look around and see the impact technology has on communication. Rather than reading a book, many people opt to
surf the web on their phone or computer instead. It is not uncommon anymore to see someone on
the move conducting business or chatting with a friend on the phone. With every new step forward in technology,
there are at times setbacks as well, or sacrifices that occur.
While
technology has had tremendously positive impacts on interpersonal
communication, it also has many disadvantages as well. Since we can now communicate much faster and
with more ease, we have a sense of instant gratification ingrained in us that
we did not have before. That sense of
instant gratification often times bleeds over into other aspects of our lives
because we are in now in a world where everything occurs quickly and fluently,
so when something does not occur that way, we become impatient. Another disadvantage I have become aware of
is that relationships in general seem to have suffered as a result of the
technological advances in communication.
People used to take time to go and speak face to face with others. Today, it is much easier to just send a quick
text message and even to have entire conversations via text message or email
versus being face to face. As a result,
people do not talk as much and develop real solid relationship as much as they
once did. Also, people today tend to be
bolder with what they say and how they communicate via electronic media. People will often times say things over text
or email that they would not normally say or in a tone they would not normally
use if they were face to face.
Advancement
in technology has had a profound impact on organizational communications much
the same way that it has on interpersonal communication. It has provided a faster, easier way to pass
information to more people in less time than conventional means. For a business or other organization, these
advancements prove to be very useful in increasing production and achieving
better results. Through my experience in
the military, I’ve been able to see the effects of technology on communication
within that organization first hand.
Before the organization began using email and the internet as a way to
pass information along, word was passed via formations that would typically
occur three times a day; in the morning, before or after lunch, and again just
before everyone goes home for the day.
Today, much of the information that was passed during these formations
is passed instantaneously to the entire unit at the click of a button. This allows the unit to continue working but
still receive the information in a timely fashion. This development has great implications for
productivity. The fact that we can
instantaneously pass a great deal of information and communicate by simply
sending an email has advantages and disadvantages with regards to leadership.
When
it comes to leadership, the effects of technology can sometimes be negative. While it is incredibly convenient to pass
information to subordinates via email or other electronic means, this should
not be the primary means for all communication in regard to leadership. At times we become so accustomed to using
technology to communicate throughout a normal business day that one may be
tempted to use electronic media for every communication need. However, one area where electronic media is
the least preferred form of communication is when giving an evaluation or when
addressing negative performance of a subordinate. “Leadership by email” as it is sometimes
referred to, is heavily frowned upon in the military. It gives the impression that the leader is
either scared to use face to face communication, or lacks the skills necessary
to conduct an evaluation face to face.
It also gives the impression that the leader is not involved or
interested in the subordinates, or in the day to day operations of the work center. Becoming too comfortable in using technology
for every communication need can lead to a sense of complacency in the
management of the work center.
I
believe a good leader is already a good manager, because that leader will have
good management abilities. “Scholars
such as Elliott Jacques take the position that leadership and management are
complementary processes.” (Sifonis,
1996, p. 180). Leaders not only set the
goals and vision for the organization, they also follow up and manage the situation and personnel to ensure
success. A good leader will provide
subordinates with the necessary training and guidance to ensure that they are
able to accomplish their mission and meet the goals of the company. A good leader will know how to utilize
various forms of communication and technology in order to best accomplish the
mission and manage operations. They will
understand the best way to employ electronic media to ensure successful
operations. When managing the work
center and personnel, a leader may effectively utilize email to pass important
information to employees without necessarily interrupting production. Since there would be less of the work day
interrupted by passing information, a leader will have more time to conduct
face to face meetings with personnel when it is critical to do so such as for
the conduct of a performance evaluation, or to address noteworthy or poor
behavior.
Advancements
in technology have greatly enriched both our personal and professional
lives. Technology has provided a means
for us to communicate in ways people of the past never thought possible. Because of these advancements, we are able to
communicate faster, easier, and more often than we have ever been able to. Technology has literally put a conversation
with our friends, family, and colleagues at our fingertips. While there are both advantages and
disadvantages to such instantaneous communication, we can all agree that when
used properly, and for the right reasons, communication technology of today can
be a valuable tool at everyone’s disposal.
References
Shockley-Zalabak,
P.S. (2009). Fundamentals of Organizational Communication: Knowledge,
Sensitivity,
Skills, Values.
Allyn and Bacon, Boston, MA.
Pearson Education, inc.
Sifonis, John G. (Author).
Corporation on a Tightrope : Balancing Leadership, Governance, and
Technology
in an Age of Complexity. Cary, NC, USA:
Oxford University Press, 1996.
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