Technology Can Make Your Business, But Ignoring IT Can Break It

When you think about it, the technology we have today is truly awe-inspiring, simply because it enables us to be so much more productive as we exercise our creativity. All one really has to do to prove its value is to compare the quality of life we enjoy now as compared to almost any time in the past.

However, this does not mean that everyone is using technology to its full capacity and, as a result, suffering some consequential effects. Let’s consider some of these effects to reinforce why it pays to embrace the potential uses of technology fully.

Effect 1: You’ll Probably Miss Opportunities

The first issue we should discuss is perhaps the most straightforward one: by limiting how you use the tools available to you, you limit the chances you have to apply them and their benefits. Let’s say that you had access to a piece of software that could cut the amount of time your tasks took by 35% across the board with no reduction in accuracy, but only used it for a single use case.

This would result in you effectively throwing money away as you watch your competition outpace you. Regardless of the tool's intended purpose—whether it is to boost your career, build connections, or grow as a person—failing to fully take advantage of it could significantly shortchange you.

Effect 2: You Could Fall Behind the Curve

One of the hallmarks of modern technology is that it is always being made more modern, which means you need to keep up with this advancement… and not just in terms of your physical devices and the software they host. You need to have a philosophy of improvement and flexibility, embracing changes as tech is innovated upon. Failing to do so has been shown to lead to stagnation in the workplace and less competitiveness overall. In some cases, these shortcomings can end careers.

Effect 3: Technology Can Be Misused

While technology is meant to simplify our lives, it can also make things significantly more difficult, and potentially serve as a distraction with considerable ripple effects. It is only too easy to get distracted by social media and the endless scrolling it encourages, or going to check your email and emerging from the junk far later than you intended. Time and energy are crucial resources in the workplace, but the very tools created to help you make the most of both can just as easily have the opposite effect if used incorrectly. Mindfulness and intention can help you and your team stay on track as you use your technology, furthering your organizational goals and preventing abuse of the tools available. 

Effect 4: Social Disconnection

As much as technology has helped to shrink the globe considerably, it has also done a lot to leave us all further apart than ever. While digital communications have made connecting with others almost effortless, it has helped to make these connections far more superficial. We also need to acknowledge the role that technology has played in the creation and dissemination of misinformation, much of it openly harmful and dangerous as it is used in bad faith to inspire beliefs in an audience. This is a shame, as humanity has always been a social species, which makes meaningful relationships and connections pretty significant to our overall well being.

Effect 5: A Widening Knowledge Gap

One of the best things about the Internet is how easy it is to find almost any information one might be looking for, provided they know how to look. Those who don’t know how to filter through the information and apply it appropriately, however, will have a much different experience. Not utilizing the tools available is a mistake… but then, so is relying too closely on the Internet and not retaining any information because the Internet is so readily available.

Clearly, Technology Has Its Pros and Cons…

…but that said, the benefits certainly outweigh the downsides in the office, and Washington Works is here to help you make the most of yours. Reach out to us at 301-571-5040 to learn more.