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Technology has made it possible for us to connect with people and places that are as far away as we can conceive in the period that is the 21st century. It has widened our reach and established connections with nearly everyone on the planet.
It has provided several opportunities for every sector in the world to save money, time, and resources. Organizations now have a wider global reach and may do so in bigger, better ways.
There are several technological elements, nevertheless, that could require more investigation. Although the world may be becoming more digital and offering us a variety of benefits, is it conceivable that our cellphones and other technology are displacing essential human interaction?
We place a high value on building strong working connections, which raises the question of whether technological advancements are facilitating or impeding this essential component of success. This question can be seen and addressed in a variety of ways.
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Interactions
No other period in history has seen a greater transformation in human contact than the last 20 years. Interactions evolve with each generation. Speaking alone is not the only aspect of human contact, which is distinct from communication. It involves communicating your thoughts, ideas, concerns, victories, and anxieties through body language, facial emotions, laughing, touch, and everything else in between. While there are some professionalism guidelines to follow while interacting with coworkers, interaction is essential to building a strong team that works well together.
Business benefits of technology
Landlines, which were common and cost billions of dollars to build, were available before cell phones. They would call and, if you were there, would be able to contact you if a client, friend, or supervisor needed to get in touch with you. They would either have to leave a message or be put on wait if they didn’t. Similar to the internet of today, the development and use of the telephone was hailed and despised at the same time.
–Always accessible
Today, however, the typical smartphone user checks their mobile phone 80 times each day, making it easier and possible to contact the people you need to talk with.
–Direct message
There are several platforms accessible to send instant messages, so there is no need to have a drawn-out chat or travel to another office or department.
–Share across several sources
Important information may be saved in the cloud and instantly shared with a group of chosen individuals without having to physically visit them and hand them copies of it.
-Automation
Technology has enabled today’s firms to automate everything from emails to updates, taking these responsibilities off the desks of previously held jobs. Previously, keeping an organization running smoothly required significant dialogues and negotiations.
How technology degrades interactions in business
While technology has undoubtedly benefited today’s global labor, there may also be negative side effects.
-Easy to communicate wrongly
Have you ever sent a text, instant message, or email that was intended to convey one thing but was misunderstood? This is only one example of how technology makes it more difficult for humans to communicate clearly.
Miscommunication via technology is occasionally a problem that can impact relationships, productivity, and morale. It may be the result of a typo or the fact that a tone of voice cannot be recognized in a text, making your joke sound sarcastic.
–Not personally
As was already said, communication is a component of interaction but it is not interaction as a whole. You can better determine how a coworker or acquaintance is feeling and their overall mood when you meet them in person and can observe their facial expressions, body language, attire, eyes, etc.
Conversely, you really have no idea how honest someone is being if you ask a coworker or friend how their night was through email and they reply, “Wonderful, calm evening”. Asking them face-to-face while keeping eye contact and paying attention not only enables you to learn about their psychological state but also gives them the idea that you are actually paying attention.
–Cyberattacks
In 2020, cyberattacks were ranked as the fifth greatest danger and have now established themselves as the standard in both the public and private sectors. A successful cyberattack might seriously hurt your company. It may have an impact on your revenue as well as the reputation of your company and customer confidence.
Therefore, protecting your data is crucial. This is where outsourced IT support is needed. In order to stop cyberattacks from occurring, they will improve your network and system protection, safeguard your data, and increase your cyber security.
–Not a pat on the back
While receiving a text, email, or instant message (IM) commending you on a job well done may be enjoyable, research informs us that these virtual pats on the back are not even close to being as significant or as effective as a physical pat on the back. Since touch is the first sense we become aware of, it is also the one we utilize the most. Receiving a touch can elicit pleasant emotions like joy, love, appreciation, and sympathy, according to scientific research on the subject.
Increasing human interaction in the workplace
Positive workplace relationships and healthy physiological reactions frequently correlate, according to scientists. In essence, having happy, healthy experiences at work is important for everyone’s health.
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