by Mike Davenport, CoachingSportsToday.com
“Technology is a great slave but a terrible master.” – Tim Ferriss
My first experience with my cell phone was awful. I finally threw it away.
It was a dumb phone. I liked it for the camera. Hated the phone part — because people would call me. I’d have to stop what I was doing to answer the phone.
That makes sense, right? I got a cell phone because I wanted a camera in my pocket, and I get miffed because the phone works. The camera was my slave, the phone turned out to be my master.
And that summaries what a coach told me in my recent digital impact survey:
“I’m a coach and I every time I turn around there is one more new digital product, or change that I have to get used to. I don’t have the time to keep pace with all of this new stuff.”
Slave or Master
I don’t know your coaching-workflow, but I bet the you use several digital tools. Something like:
- Smartphone in your pocket
- Computer on your desk
- Tablet in your bag
- Apps galore
Is that how you roll? If so, what’s your relationship with them? Who is the master? Who is the slave?
We think it’s the athletes who are slaves to their phones, not raising their eyes to look up, always swimming in the Facebook pool.
But coaches are not immune to being enslaved by digital. It can be so overwhelming. Like old school me who could figure out the camera, but done-in by the phone.
Money or Helpful?
Few tech-companies make digital products because they are good FOR you. They make them to make money FROM you. When a money stream dries up, out comes:
- a new product
- a new update
- a new platform
I’m not a Luddite. I like digital toys, but …
not when they bring work to me … outside of work
not when my free time … gets invaded
not when I’m forced to upgrade … that which already works well
not when they don’t work … such as exposing my personal data
And especially not when I spend more time learning and massaging a tool that should have saved me time.
Action That Can Help
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, what can you do? I’ve had those feelings, and here’s what I did. Maybe one will work for you:
- Be the Master. You are the master of your digital. If you aren’t, YOU’VE given digital permission to be your Master. All things digital should be your tools. If you are feeling forced to be enslaved to digital (“My boss says I have to have my phone on and next to me 24 hours a day”) you need a better job. Seriously better.
- 80-20 it. You’ve been hearing about the Pareto Principle recently, unless you’re living under a goal post. Basically, in this case, it says a large percentage of your overwhelm is caused by a small percentage of your digital tools. So, is there one or two tools that are the culprits? Can you become the Master of them?
- Ask yourself, “Why do I need this digital tool?” I am NOT on Facebook, because it isn’t helpful to me. I could easily be enslaved to it, but since it is not a helpful tool for what I do, I’m not there. Look at any digital tool you use, and ask yourself, “Why do I need this?”
- Will simpler work better? What is the simplest tool you can use to get your job done? For example, I love to write using the fantastic program Ulysses. It is a helpful tool, however sometimes it is too complex for my writing. So then I use the very basic Notes program that comes installed on all my Apple devices. (I’m writing this on it now) and DayOne. They are basic, but meet my needs. In-and-out and I’m done. Is there a simpler digital tool you could be using?
- Look to automation. Are there tools, or part of a tool, that can automate some of your workflow?
Digital overwhelm is a fact for many. Keeping up with the new stuff can be a challenge. A constant stream of products designed for better connection, deeper engagement, greater productivity often means burden on the limited time we have.
Keep in mind who is the Master.