Is it a waste of time?

Am I just wasting my time? Many people tell me they agree with me that we spend too much time on our electronics, and I get encouraged. Then I get deflated when so many people don’t seem to want to do anything to change the situation. Groups of people, sitting right next to each other or across the table from each other, are still face down in their cell phones. When I try to have a human conversation with one of them, I feel like I’m interrupting something so much more important in their virtual world.

Whether it’s the dinner table or the conference table, why can’t we just put down the phones for a few minutes and have actual human interaction? Am I wasting my time trying to get us back to that human connection that we’re so rapidly losing?

What are your thoughts? Are you frustrated? Or are you one that has a panic attack if you’re in a meeting and are not allowed to use your electronic device? Does your family try to get you to put your phone away and actually talk or is the entire family buried in their phones at every get together?

So many questions and so few answers. I think I have some of the solution but, again, wonder if I’m wasting my time trying to share those answers with others. I work (sometimes desperately) to help bring the human connection back to the workplace. It would be nice if some of that effort spilled into family life as well. At this point, though, I’d just be happy if someone in the business world would said “Yes! We need to refocus on the humans!”

All industries are impacted by this alarming trend toward electronics dependency. Retail, healthcare, hospitality, food service, and even education seem to be filled with people who think the virtual world is more important than customers, patients, and fellow team members. Do we just give in and say that’s the way of the world now?

I think not. I also think I am not (totally) wasting my time. There are so many people who, realizing their addiction, know that we have to return to the human connection. We have to re-instill a sense of respect and empathy. We have to pay more attention to the humans in our world and listen to them with intent.

What do you think? Am I wasting my time?