The culture of “when” can help us have a stress-free workplace instead of dealing with everything “now”.
If you feel that when you ask for something and expect it to be done right there and then, you are not respecting other people’s time.
The internet has made a lot of impossibilities possible. Being able to look for information and communicate immediately with people who are far from us are one of the many perks the invention of the internet has given us.
The internet has undeniably revolutionized the way we access information and connect with others. Its impact on our daily lives is profound, enabling us to accomplish tasks that were once considered impossible. From conducting research on diverse topics to instantaneously communicating with individuals across the globe, the internet has ushered in an era of unprecedented accessibility and connectivity. Whether it’s seeking knowledge, sharing ideas, or fostering relationships, the internet has become an indispensable tool that continues to redefine boundaries and transcend limitations.
This gave us instantaneous access to almost everything. Knowledge at the palm of our hands. Entertainment whenever we like it without waiting. Getting connected to people we have not met who give us a like on our posts. Communicating with almost everyone all around the world.
While these are all good, it gave us an expectation that we get instant results from everything we ask for. This expectation is starting to have a negative effect that we are not seeing now but I think will eventually take a toll on us.
Take for example at work. When you chat with someone, we expect that the person you are trying to reach will respond immediately. That the person is just in front of his or her laptop or holding his or her phone and when we send a message, we expect that person to respond, immediately.
The expectations surrounding communication at the workplace have evolved significantly with the widespread adoption of digital technology. Consider a typical scenario in a professional setting: when engaging in a conversation with a colleague, there is often an implicit anticipation of an immediate response. This anticipation is fueled by the presumption that the individual is readily available, either stationed in front of a computer or actively engaged with their mobile device. As a result, there is an inherent assumption that any message relayed will elicit an instantaneous reaction.
This phenomenon can be attributed to the prevalence of real-time communication tools in modern workplaces. The seamless integration of instant messaging platforms, coupled with the ubiquity of smartphones and laptops, has fostered an environment where immediate responsiveness is the norm. However, while this expediency can enhance operational efficiency, it also presents challenges. The constant expectation of instant communication can lead to feelings of pressure and an incessant need to be continuously available, blurring the boundaries between professional and personal time.
Moreover, the implicit demand for immediate responses can inadvertently overshadow the necessity for thoughtful contemplation and considered replies. It is essential to recognize the value of allowing individuals the space and time to craft well-considered and comprehensive responses, especially when addressing complex or pivotal matters. Striking a balance between promptness and quality in communication is crucial for fostering a healthy and productive work environment.
Thus, while the expectation of immediate responses in workplace communication is deeply ingrained, it is imperative to cultivate an organizational culture that values both timeliness and thoughtfulness in exchanges, thereby promoting effective and meaningful interactions among colleagues.
We have a perception that everyone we talk to over the internet is almost always online and they must respond. Even a five-minute delay in their responses slightly pisses us off. Don’t you feel irritated when the person had seen your message and will not respond? Kind of rude, right?
It is like we think we are outside that. That everyone else, except ourselves, is supposed to be answering every inquiry immediately. If they do not, then we feel irritated as we wait. And we want our concerns taken care of immediately as we all consider our needs are more important than others.
But when we step back, we are not always online. We do other stuff too. We do our own things. We take care of things we need to be done at the moment may it be because we must or feel like doing it. That we are not in front of our laptops or on our phones all the time.
So why do we expect it to be different from others?
The culture of “now” is so prevalent that we do tend to disrespect other people’s time. We wanted everything instantaneous. We want everything now. We want us to be prioritized now. We want to be considered more important than anyone or anything else. We only have the time “now”. There is no more time for us.
Why don’t we move to the culture of “when”?
“When” things must be done and completed that help us achieve out goals? “When” do we respond to people from different parts of our lives? “When” do we spend time to help ourselves grow and be able to help others?
“When” do we expect people to help us get what we need?
By shifting our perspective into understanding that others are just exactly like us, it would better help us set clear expectations for ourselves and others. We do not need everything now. We need it by a certain time. It is not a question of how much more important our needs are compared to others. It is a question of when we could expect others to help us achieve what we need to accomplish.
Of course, life and death situations are different. Let’s not get carried away.
Let us all respect other people’s time. No one is really more important than anyone else. It is only our perspective in life that tells us what is important and what do we need to prioritize.
Do you think you are more important than others because of your position in your company or because you have more money? If your answer to this is yes, then please, take a step back and assess.
Who do we even think we are?
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