For the most part, the promise of technology making our lives easier is true. In reality, there may be times when technology seems like a leash or an anchor tethering us to our work even when we’re away, and most of us have felt a fleeting bout of resentment brought on by our own dependence on today’s technological wonders. If you’re one of the many who would practically require a surgeon to be separated from your cell phone, you understand this all too well. However, using the right technology in the right way can help us to increase productivity and accuracy, make processes more efficient, and transform our world in ways that would be otherwise impossible.
The trick is to find the right balance. Technology changes so quickly that resolving to have the latest and greatest at all times is unrealistic, costly, and even counter-productive. At the same time, avoiding new technology for the fear of something new replacing it within a short period of time would be equally detrimental. While the old adage discourages us from trying to fix that which is not broken, systematic pursuit of growth and improvement is an absolute must. It would be irresponsible to avoid that which is new simply because the old ways seem to work.
As a leader/manager it’s up to you to seek out ways to improve the company’s current processes. Utilize the talents and resources available to you to assess and evaluate those processes, and make your decisions accordingly. There are many factors to consider – the size of a company, number of employees, ROI etc. If what makes your company special or unique are hand-crafted products, then introducing technology for mass production will make little sense. If, however, outdated processes are left as they are simply because of the resistance to change, you may be overdue in your evaluation. Seek out and embrace new technology – especially if it will cut your costs, improve productivity, give you an edge over your competitors, and/or generally make life easier.
