Is Technology Weakening Your Leadership?

It is a given to say that technology has changed the way we communicate and conduct our daily lives, at home and at work. My kids are perplexed by the idea that I grew up in a world without today’s technology of smartphones, computers and tablets or, of course, how could they ever live without the internet.  We are so used to having the information at our fingertips and in seconds. In some ways it has brought us closer. My kids can text or facetime their grandparents anytime, whereas we use to call long distance and my mom would stand over me counting the minutes until I had to get off as it ‘cost a fortune’ to call long distance.  

Technology has provided leaders with some new challenges. Instead of letters, mail and face-to-face interactions, we are now emailing, texting and video conferencing. In some ways it has made communication more distant and disconnected. As a leader, it is harder to gain non-verbal cues from an email or text. It has also changed where some people work with telecommute and virtual offices.  

Leaders have had to learn to communicate in multiple mediums. Technology allows us to respond to people in a way that we would never respond if we were meeting with people in person. For example, not responding at all is much more difficult face-to-face than it is over email or text. Also, people are willing to say things in a written email–emphasized with all caps, highlighted in red–that they would never say in person.

When used effectively, technology can enhance your success as a leader, and, when used ineffectively, technology can undermine your success as a leader. When should you come out from behind the veil of technology?

1. When dealing with difficult topics or conflict. When conflict is involved, the best thing you can do is meet face-to-face. If that’s not possible, schedule a conference call and talk to the person over the phone. As consultants, we make a good portion of our living by people who refuse to deal with the conflict head on and instead, send an email and copy numerous people so they can also be involved and enjoy the turmoil.
2. When it’s a leadership issue. Any time you need to talk with one of your direct reports about topics such as:
   • Professional growth and development
   • Performance reviews
   • Coaching and counseling
   • Significant changes in the job or reporting structure
   • When your direct report is not aware of a concern you might have
3. In meetings. Whether they’re one-on-one or team meetings, do your best to keep your devices out of your view and only answer crucial calls, texts, or emails. Sitting there with your face in your phone doesn’t portray professionalism or respect, and sends a message that the people in the meeting that they are less important. When we coach struggling leaders, being on their phone and not present is a common complain we hear from peers and direct reports.
4. When you need to focus or be creative. Many smartphone apps come with settings to automatically alert you when you have a new notification: a Facebook tag, a retweet, or maybe even a LinkedIn update. These notifications are great for the app makers, but bad for you. Constantly being notified and distracted during work, even during your spare time, could hamper your success. Consider this: Einstein came up with the theory of relativity while daydreaming. What if he had used up every spare minute to check his email or phone? Free up some time away from your cell phone and turn off unnecessary automatic notifications on your phone and computer so that you can have time for uninterrupted strategic thinking.
5. When others have a strong preference for face-to-face. Consider the preferences of others when communicating. Instead of using the golden rule, use Tony Alessandra’s Platinum Rule: do unto others as they would have done unto them. Basically, as a leader, communicate with them, the way they seem to prefer. You can usually tell what this is by the way they communicate with you. Do they email you, walk into your office, or text you? When you’re not discussing a difficult topic or a leadership issue, you can freely choose your method of communication.

To be effective as a leader, and earn followership from direct reports, you need to decide what is the right way to most effectively use technology. There is one question that’ll help you in determining the right method to communicate: If my goal is to build a relationship with a direct report who I truly care about, the best way to communicate this information is ________.

In most instances, the answer is going to be face-to-face. When that’s not possible, pick up the phone and talk to them personally or schedule a video conference. If that is not possible, then get a time scheduled in the immediate future to talk.

If you don’t do this, then you’re making a decision to use technology as a leadership tool to either avoid the conflict or take the easy path, but not the right thing. Being a leader is difficult. If it was easy, every manager would be a leader and, as a consultant, I would be unemployed.