"Crack Berry" Conflict

(I will preface this with my ownership of an Iphone so my comments are self-directed as well.) 

When I travel around and work with leaders and employees on conflict and other subjects, I always ask participants to turn their "Crack berries on Stun."  We get a kick out of it and then all switch off their ringers, most put them away, some, simply, can't disconnect. At a recent training, several people had them working at one time. We, even children, seem to be osing our patience for things that we can't control or manipulate.

When leading teams and projects life moves quickly.  In a depressed economy, respondability and the often "required" fast paced world of calls, Nextel chirps, emails, text messages, Skype, Facebook, Twitter and more, it almost seems as though we are being devoured by digital tsunami that will change our culture forever;  I'm convinced that our unabashed curiosity, innovation, and evolution of the digital world will eventually bind us. 

So before letting this digital, time vampire drive the bus, consider how to reduce connectivity when possible. 

1. Turn airplane mode on for a while so nothing can come in, emails, texts or phone calls. What a firewall!
   
2. Stop waking up in the middle of the night to answer emails that can wait until the morning; manage expectations accordingly.  (Keep these devices away from our head when sleeping - supposedly the radiation isn't good for us.)
3. Pavlov's Dog - the unfortunate retraining of ourselves to flinch or respond when we hear the ping of an email...usually leading to a quick response.  Lengthen the amount of time (at least slightly) it takes for your email to check teh server for incoming mail.
4. Take the Bluetooth earpiece off your skull when in meetings and other times when calls will go unanswered; you may appear to some as part cyborg and/or ready to disengage at any moment.
5. If you are on vacation do not keep pulling the laptop/cell phone out, your companions will get bothered quickly.
6. Turn it off in meetings and trainings...you are not present and people know it.
7. Enjoy taking email breaks; leave the phone in the desk/car for 30 minutes...you'd be surprised how good it feels to get a "digital time out."
8. Save and Sync often so you are not always trying to remember what is on your calendar.
9. Ask a friend if you are using the phone and/or digital devices too much.  They will let you know if they think detaching a little more is a good plan.
10. Leave it behind - next time you go on a family event, to a soccer game or other activity, just don't bring it.  It feels great.
    

©2010 David Gerber

Have a great month!!

Best Regards,
Dave
 

Dave Gerber's One of a Kind

"Synergy" Sand Film...

"Viewing the sand film was a unique and innovative way to key into the theme of Dave Gerber's presentation to our annual state league staff workshop. It brought home the point that anything worth creating -- and worth creating well -- has to be done at the right pace and with a team of people who can work well together. Our meeting attendees very much enjoyed the film and the way it so beautifully connected to the theme of Dave's talk."

 -- Scott A. Morris, Manager, State League  Programs National League of Cities

-------------------------

Dave Gerber, President

Synergy Development & Training, LLC

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