Technology and courage

Technology - you've got to love it and hate it.

On one hand, technology allows you to perform mechanical tasks quickly and efficiently.  However, it can tie you to your organisation for every waking hour.

So what's its relevance to courage? Like any other aspect of our working lives, it has its positive and negative aspects.

1) Technology can be an enabler

Technology allows employees to speak up in a non-threatening, non-time dependent way.   However, it also promotes rash, unthoughtful communication and makes it easy to involve large numbers of people who can quickly spread their views.

Technology also allows organisations to provide a lot of information.  Unfortunately, too much information can lead to employees relying on ‘trusted’ colleagues to help them form their own opinions.

2) Technology can be an educator

Technology allows organizations to impart information to large numbers of employees and use interactive techniques to engage and teach employees at a time that best suits them.  However, technology doesn't easily allow the organization to judge the impact of its messages – it’s often one way without the powerful ‘human’ feedback aspects.

3) Technology can be a facilitator

Technology can bring together people from different geographies (and time zones) quickly and easily.  However, technology can be difficult to turn off outside of work hours.

4) Technology can be a weapon

Technology can be used to bully and harass those who are different.  However, it can also be used to quickly communicate the consequences of such behaviour.

5) Technology can be a leveller

While technology allows managers to talk to employees, it also allows employees to talk back!  However, it is difficult to control electronic feedback and it can become an out of control monster.

Technology can be an enormous asset in developing courage in an organization.  However, technology does not, by itself, lead to behaviour change.

Use it wisely.