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From Street Cred to Unintended Consequences
Written by Buddy Hobart on March 18th, 2010
I have recently been told I have “street cred”. At this stage in my life and career, I never even imagined that I would need street cred for anything. But, as usual, I was wrong.
Allow me to explain. Recently one our employees noticed my new phone, the Droid, and was fascinated that I had upgraded to that technology. Since she handles a great deal of our Gen Y Now project, she felt my obtaining a Droid gave me “street cred” among the tech savvy Gen Y set. While that may be true, what it is really giving me is headaches.
I have to admit the technology is extraordinary and I am fascinated about what all the device can do. I am so fascinated, in fact, that I might even read the instruction manual. For sake of full disclosure, I am not sure how many cell phones I have owned in my life, but I have yet to read an instruction manual. To me, a cell phone was, primarily intended to make calls. Every once in a while, it was useful to receive a call. Over the last year or two, however, things have changed dramatically.
I don’t think I am alone when it comes to my generation and the new technology. While I am not afraid of it, I am also not completely open to everything it can do…I subscribe to the law of unintended consequences.
I am wrestling with how connected I really want to be. It is hard enough for me to separate my private time from my work efforts and being constantly connected may not be a good thing. I know many folks who regret receiving their first “crackberry”.
I certainly did not buy the phone to enhance any of my “street cred”. While I am an advocate for Gen Y, I never even stopped to think that I was now venturing into technological territory unknown. That might well be the first unintended consequence of my purchase.
My biggest fear of unintended consequences is to send the message that I am constanly available. Too often I see businesses paralyzed by useless email and the need to delay action while waiting for a response. I do not want my connectedness to alter our organization’s culture. Currently, we value action, accountability, and results. We do not wait around needlessly.
Another unintended consequence that has me scared to death is the reaction of our clients. If everyone knows that you are constantly connected, there seems to be a sense that you will always respond in real time. Many of our clients have not become extraordinarily successful by working 9-5. Will they have an expectation that I will be available to answer any issue late into the night? What will the expectations be? Am I overreacting? Will anyone even care? I simply don’t know and am honestly confounded by these questions.
I’m sure I will like having a GPS in my phone and being able to get my Southwest Airlines boarding pass from anywhere, but will I really appreciate being connected 24-7? Will I upset many disciplines that I have worked so hard to develop over the years?
As a technology immigrant, this territory is very new and confusing. And now I have to worry about using my new found “street cred” should I be a miserable failure assimilating to this new land.
How have you managed the unintended consequences of constant connectivity put forth by technology for yourself or your organization?
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