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The Curse of the Blackberry |
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Finally the news is out. In a study for the Harvard Business Review (reported in September 2007), the proof has been provided that repeated use of your Blackberry actually reduces your intelligence (your IQ drops 10 points).
The problem is lack of attention. Everyone complains and moans about how the Blackberry has made everyone so accessible and you can never get away from work. Well, it’s our own fault! It’s not the accessibility - it’s the lack of attention. We get addicted to our little black and silver friends (answering emails in meetings and when driving) and we don’t pay attention to what is going on. It hurts our decision-making and our credibility.
We have all been in meetings where people sitting around the table casually (they thought) glanced at the lap to check emails and see what’s next. They think we don’t notice – we do! We notice a lot. Checking emails in a meeting is incredibly rude and disrespectful! If you don’t want
to pay attention in the meeting – don’t go! If you don’t want to hear what the other person is saying, don’t go to the meeting. Nothing infuriates me more than suits sitting in a meeting playing with their Blackberries. Pay attention!
Don’t get me wrong – I have one and I am very attached to it. I have worried about crossing over to the dark side as it is very addictive. I never look at or answer it when I am talking or meeting with someone. When I am with you I am with you. I respect you and your time. I just ask for the same.
Meetings and calls should be a “no fly” zone for blackberries. Put it away and pay attention and give respect to the person (or people) you are with. Unless you are a surgeon you are not saving lives and the message can wait until you are finished the meeting. Pay attention to your commitments. If you have committed to a meeting, be there – put the blackberry away and turn the vibrating option off (yes, we all hear it and it doesn’t make you seem more important) and be smarter. Wait for a blackberry break and then feed the habit.
On a flight last week the gentleman sitting next to me actually fondled his blackberry (I felt uncomfortable actually) during a lot of the flight. He couldn’t turn it on but he held it and moved his fingers over it almost caressing it. Wow – time to back off.
Blackberries make life easier and keep you in touch with your commitments – only if you use them respectfully. Don’t lose IQ, respect the people you are with and pay attention in meetings (the message will wait until the break).
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