Today’s technological society has been raising and embracing two generations of employees or potential employees who are so digitally focused that they can no longer remember even the simplest of things—such as a phone number. This “digital dementia” will have a great impact on the business community in the areas of productivity, efficiency, communications, social interaction and employee/employer connection. Employers will be coping with employees who lack innovative, critical or creative thinking.
Additional research shows that more than 60 percent of employees studied between the ages of 20 and 30 suffer from memory loss and forgetfulness blaming an environment overwhelmed by digital devices. Yesterday, Promotional Consultant Today shared three ways organizations can refocus their employees’ digital minds on innovation and other key areas of growth. Today, we share four more:
Recognize the digital tsunami before it arrives. By being forewarned you can be prepared. It will save you hundreds of work hours trying to figure out how to correct the avalanche of problems after they’ve happened and are entrenched in your workforce. Create a checklist of issues symptomatic of digital dementia that you can avoid.
Change the work environment to be more conducive to interpersonal relations.
Meet with employees at their work stations instead of emailing or texting them—even a telephone call is better than a text or email.
Hold regular innovation and creativity meetings as a group to engage everyone in the process of developing the right side of the brain to compensate for the digitally over-controlled left side.
Your workforce is always focused on something and often times that “something” is a smartphone or other digital device. It is important that they also focus on what your business needs to thrive and grow.
Source: Pat Heydlauff speaks from experience. She works with organizations that want to create an environment where employees are engaged, encouraged and involved, and with people who want to be in control, anxiety-free and confident. She is the author of the forthcoming book, Engage, How to Lead with Power, Productivity and Promise and Feng Shui, So Easy a Child Can Do It.