Tools are driving employees to engage with technology in a way that helps them get more done in less time. I’d argue that the sense of greater productivity is arising from the adoption of various tech tools that make tasks such as reading and answering e-mails, searching and collecting information, communicating and collaborating internally, and other role-specific tasks much easier and less time consuming.
We often hear about technology being a distraction: The chime of a text message, the addictive pull of social media, and the expansive world of the internet at our fingertips. True, technology can be quite distracting and employees are struggling to find the middle ground. But, technology is not the only productivity-killer; an increasing number of employees are complaining about having to deal with noisy co-workers, work overload, and information overload, reports a recent survey.2 Are these contributors killing productivity any less than tech distractions?
Contrary to other productivity-killers, technology serves as a terrific opportunity to empower employees by easing burden on their shoulders. They are able to get their work done more quickly and effortlessly. With more time on their hands, what can we expect to happen?
