Week Three- Mobile and Strategic Communication
Speaking from experience, sometimes I feel as if my mobile devices have taken over my life. From my tablet to my smartphone, I’m always in need of one to complete a task or bring forth an idea. Most products and services I use have added to my addiction with their user-friendly websites and applications. My statements are far from complaints but more of me realizing how attached I am to these devices.
Maybe I Should Unplug…..
Throughout the years, I’ve realized how important having access on the go has been to my career. In the past in my personal life, I’ve had to separate myself from my mobile devices and certain applications due to the amount of time invested. I’ve used fasting techniques to discipline myself and sometimes take my mobile devices away for weeks at a time so that I won’t dependent on them or get distracted by them. During these moments of separation, I’ve been able to accomplish a lot of personal goals but at the cost of some of my professional obligations . Long story short, I HAVE TO STAY CONNECTED!
Luckily, my fasting didn’t get me fired or replaced due to my mobile device hiatus but it did allow me to position social media and technology in my life. For so long there was a blurred line between my life, my business and my devices. The same devices I used to capture family memories were the same devices I created invoices and spreadsheets on. This may not be drastic for many but for me there had to be a change in how I operated with the advances of technology. I released a lot of personal connections to my devices and started to only use them for business purposes. I no longer spend much time taking pictures so that no can fully enjoy moments as they happen and I stopped sharing my every move on social media . This mentality change lead to the creation of my first t-shirt that reads
Over 3.1 billion people in the world have access to the Internet. This includes around 642 million Chinese, 280 million Americans, 243 million Indians, 109 million Japanese, 108 million Brazilians, and 84 million Russians, among others. These individuals use the Internet for economic development, entrepreneurship, education, and health care (West , 2015). This type of access and these type of numbers are the breeding ground for opportunity but most people and companies are missing the moment. Looking back on previous posts, it is clear that people and technology wants more of whatever is current and more access is at the top of the list. According to my t-shirt, social media has more of a professional purpose than personal. Let me clarify the meaning of the shirt. In a world where people would rather post their dinner than share job postings or take selfie instead of community service, many are allowing countless opportunities to pass by them. The shirt encourages productive and positive results from productive and positive posting and sharing on social media and online. While smartphones and mobile devices have been seen as a distraction in the workplace, I wonder if social media has added to the restricted use of personal mobile devices while at work?
Mobile Shift At The Workplace
Personal devices at work have been an issue for many people including myself. This was an even bigger issue for me when I was extremely attached to my devices. This rule in some establishments continues to stand firm requesting that employees not use their personal devices while working and/or on the property. In most cases, this provision is in place to protect the safety of information and employees. In other scenarios, phones are prohibited during work hours due to the misuse and misconduct. Some employers go as far as to provide employees with devices equipped with all applications and contacts needed to perform work duties properly. I will admit that even with a work phone and knowledge of punishment for using my personal devices, I still manage to check my devices. Not because I’m expecting an important call or text but simply because it feels like it was taken from me. This has has caused alot of daydreaming and procrastinating from the feeling of being restricted. I know it sounds a bit interesting that I would become uncomfortable by a rule that only lasted 8 hours a day but it had a major impact on my work performance. Only 30% of U.S. employees are engaged at work and this costs businesses almost $550 billion per year (Corbin, 2016). Luckily, a beautiful mistake gave me an idea that may erase the blurred lines between mobile devices and the workplace.
Beautiful Mobile Mistake
My company is pretty up-to-date when it comes to technology. From the company’s app, you’re able to work, communicate, correct, coach, monitor and interact as if you were face to face with your peers. By the company's request, the mobile app is only authorized for company devices. Due to issues with my work phone, for two weeks I was allowed to operate the app and work from my personal phone. Ironically, at the close of the two weeks my numbers had increased dramatically. I contribute the progression to the reduced amount time spent of checking my personal phone and trying to get back into work mode after the mental mobile break. With my personal phone just as accessible as my work app, I was able to ignore notifications that weren't important instead of sneaking to see if things were with my family or if it was just another Groupon email. 90% of Americans own a mobile phone, with one-third of those being a smartphone. In this environment, it should come as no surprise that three out of four U.S. companies are planning to or currently engaged in mobile marketing (Kaplan, 2012). Hopefully, allowing employees to bring in their own devices will help reduce the lack of engagement since some restriction is removed. I understand no social media while working but I think everyone knows the anxiety it brings not being able to check your phone to see if you missed a call from your spouse or if it was just a Facebook update notification. Employers should consider this as they continue to meet technology head on.
Source:
1. West , D. (2015). Digital divide: Improving Internet access in the developing world through affordable services and diverse content. Center for Technology Innovation at Brookings.
2. Corbin, J. (2016). Employee Engagement: A Mobile Communications Strategy is the Solution. Retrieved from www.thecommsapp.com/media-center/apprise-mobile-in-the-news/nehra-news-employee-engagement-a-mobile-communications-strategy-is-the
3. Kaplan, A. (2012). If you love something, let it go mobile . Retrieved from http://www.slideshare.net/mobmarguru/mobile-marketing-and-mobile-social-media
Maybe I Should Unplug…..
Throughout the years, I’ve realized how important having access on the go has been to my career. In the past in my personal life, I’ve had to separate myself from my mobile devices and certain applications due to the amount of time invested. I’ve used fasting techniques to discipline myself and sometimes take my mobile devices away for weeks at a time so that I won’t dependent on them or get distracted by them. During these moments of separation, I’ve been able to accomplish a lot of personal goals but at the cost of some of my professional obligations . Long story short, I HAVE TO STAY CONNECTED!
Luckily, my fasting didn’t get me fired or replaced due to my mobile device hiatus but it did allow me to position social media and technology in my life. For so long there was a blurred line between my life, my business and my devices. The same devices I used to capture family memories were the same devices I created invoices and spreadsheets on. This may not be drastic for many but for me there had to be a change in how I operated with the advances of technology. I released a lot of personal connections to my devices and started to only use them for business purposes. I no longer spend much time taking pictures so that no can fully enjoy moments as they happen and I stopped sharing my every move on social media . This mentality change lead to the creation of my first t-shirt that reads
“Social Media Is For My Businesses Not My Business"
Over 3.1 billion people in the world have access to the Internet. This includes around 642 million Chinese, 280 million Americans, 243 million Indians, 109 million Japanese, 108 million Brazilians, and 84 million Russians, among others. These individuals use the Internet for economic development, entrepreneurship, education, and health care (West , 2015). This type of access and these type of numbers are the breeding ground for opportunity but most people and companies are missing the moment. Looking back on previous posts, it is clear that people and technology wants more of whatever is current and more access is at the top of the list. According to my t-shirt, social media has more of a professional purpose than personal. Let me clarify the meaning of the shirt. In a world where people would rather post their dinner than share job postings or take selfie instead of community service, many are allowing countless opportunities to pass by them. The shirt encourages productive and positive results from productive and positive posting and sharing on social media and online. While smartphones and mobile devices have been seen as a distraction in the workplace, I wonder if social media has added to the restricted use of personal mobile devices while at work?
Mobile Shift At The Workplace
Personal devices at work have been an issue for many people including myself. This was an even bigger issue for me when I was extremely attached to my devices. This rule in some establishments continues to stand firm requesting that employees not use their personal devices while working and/or on the property. In most cases, this provision is in place to protect the safety of information and employees. In other scenarios, phones are prohibited during work hours due to the misuse and misconduct. Some employers go as far as to provide employees with devices equipped with all applications and contacts needed to perform work duties properly. I will admit that even with a work phone and knowledge of punishment for using my personal devices, I still manage to check my devices. Not because I’m expecting an important call or text but simply because it feels like it was taken from me. This has has caused alot of daydreaming and procrastinating from the feeling of being restricted. I know it sounds a bit interesting that I would become uncomfortable by a rule that only lasted 8 hours a day but it had a major impact on my work performance. Only 30% of U.S. employees are engaged at work and this costs businesses almost $550 billion per year (Corbin, 2016). Luckily, a beautiful mistake gave me an idea that may erase the blurred lines between mobile devices and the workplace.
Beautiful Mobile Mistake
My company is pretty up-to-date when it comes to technology. From the company’s app, you’re able to work, communicate, correct, coach, monitor and interact as if you were face to face with your peers. By the company's request, the mobile app is only authorized for company devices. Due to issues with my work phone, for two weeks I was allowed to operate the app and work from my personal phone. Ironically, at the close of the two weeks my numbers had increased dramatically. I contribute the progression to the reduced amount time spent of checking my personal phone and trying to get back into work mode after the mental mobile break. With my personal phone just as accessible as my work app, I was able to ignore notifications that weren't important instead of sneaking to see if things were with my family or if it was just another Groupon email. 90% of Americans own a mobile phone, with one-third of those being a smartphone. In this environment, it should come as no surprise that three out of four U.S. companies are planning to or currently engaged in mobile marketing (Kaplan, 2012). Hopefully, allowing employees to bring in their own devices will help reduce the lack of engagement since some restriction is removed. I understand no social media while working but I think everyone knows the anxiety it brings not being able to check your phone to see if you missed a call from your spouse or if it was just a Facebook update notification. Employers should consider this as they continue to meet technology head on.
Source:
1. West , D. (2015). Digital divide: Improving Internet access in the developing world through affordable services and diverse content. Center for Technology Innovation at Brookings.
2. Corbin, J. (2016). Employee Engagement: A Mobile Communications Strategy is the Solution. Retrieved from www.thecommsapp.com/media-center/apprise-mobile-in-the-news/nehra-news-employee-engagement-a-mobile-communications-strategy-is-the
3. Kaplan, A. (2012). If you love something, let it go mobile . Retrieved from http://www.slideshare.net/mobmarguru/mobile-marketing-and-mobile-social-media
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