There is no disputing the fact that technology has improved our way of living and has helped to cut down the frictions in our day-to-day travails. Of course, different technological advancements such as zoom meetings, email texting, etc are requirements in the workplace to ensure the ease of connection between employers and employees, and also the ease of interaction among co-workers. All these have been effective in the workplace, giving employees and employers more time to focus on high-value projects.
Technology indeed has its positive impact in the workplace, albeit over-reliance on it in the workplace has its shortcomings. According to studies, it states that the more employees rely too much on technology, the more they lose touch with human connection, and the more they run the risk of losing an important tool which is their humanity. While the use of automation tools such as AI, Robotics, Analytics, Collaborative tools, etc seem to be on the increase in the workplace, a large number of employers are worried that the workplace is becoming less human.
“While automation is the next workplace frontier, the biggest fear is that work is losing its human touch, likely due to unmet needs for personalization and recognition”, says Todd Katz, Executive vice president, group benefits at MetLife. It is not ideal for employers to allow their employees to be over-reliant on technological tools, as it hurts workplace interaction. Sending mail or passing across information through phone calls or messages might seem quicker than face-to-face, but it has been proven to be less effective when it comes to creating meaningful connections and rapport in the workplace.
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According to a review by Harvard Business, it stated that face-to-face human interaction is 34 times more effective than no verbal cues because 60% of people tend to misread or misinterpret a message when communicating through any technological tool. A further review has shown that technological communication often results in a lack of personalization and trust. If there seems to be no alternative as regards the use of these technologies, this is where employers can implement routines and strategies to create workplace interaction.
There are various ways by which employers can create interaction in the workplace to avoid employees from losing touch with humanity, ways such as;
Team Volunteering:
Employers should seek or initiate projects that employees must partake in, to ensure that they communicate with one another. Employers who create volunteering programs are reported to have higher levels of both autonomy and support from their co-workers. Volunteering brings people together, and they also get to carry out the work in an emphatic situation.
Hold Regular Meetings:
Weekly or monthly meetings where employees get to meet one another are great opportunities for them to get to know each other on a personal level. The advantage of regular interaction not only relaxes routines but also promotes creativity and co-operation.
Promote Cooperation:
Promoting cooperation is one ideal way employers can make their employees not lose touch with humanity in the workplace. Working together at work, especially on projects can help in the development of better ideas and the improvement of employee engagement. Not only does collaboration create a happier workplace, it also creates an educated workplace because employees get to learn from one another.
Final Thoughts
Employers must understand that there is a need to balance the use of technology in the workplace where employees can also get the opportunity to interact on a face-to-face level. Over reliance on technological tools, will make them lose touch with humanity especially in the workplace.