Does technology liberate you or enslave you?

There’s an old saying, “Liquor, like money, makes a good person better and a bad person worse.” I might add technology to that saying, as so many people claim it enslaves them into working 24/7 while others claim it liberates them and gives them back a life.

What’s the difference? Let’s look at liquor as it’s easier to understand. Some people drink sociably, never get drunk and don’t drive if they’re ever compromised in any way. Others have a drink and think it’s pretty good. They have another and another and another, and we know where that leads. The difference is something called responsible self-control. Just because it’s available doesn’t mean we should get carried away.

It’s the same with technology. I find it very liberating. Years ago, working on an engineering problem with people in Europe and the Far East, I can remember waiting for an Email on a Friday afternoon. I had to review it, ensure it’s what we needed and send it on to the next step. Well, the only advantages I can think of to leaving the office at 11:00 on a Friday night is there wouldn’t be much traffic. Hunger pains would have disappeared and all I wanted was to get to bed.

Working internationally had a way of wrecking a lot of things, so they gave me a monitor to take home. I could dial into our network whenever I wanted without being in the office. Then, I got a computer for at home, even more liberating; I could do a lot of work from home. If it was snowing, and I didn’t have any important meetings, why take the risk of going in?

Then, came laptop computers and cell phones, and I could work from anywhere, even on airplanes. Why watch a lousy movie when I could finish that report and have more free time when I got home?

And it keeps getting better – videoconferencing, kind of spotty at first, but much improved nowadays, has saved me a number of trips to the Far East and Europe. It’s not quite as good as actually being there, but the wear and tear on us is so much less.

Admittedly, some of the “enslaved” people spend a lot of time playing games and/or social networking, which is not work related. Yes, those things can be highly addictive, but are they productive or just enjoyable?

The list goes on, and these toys are wonderful, but once again, you need something called responsible self-control. I remember an interview with Mary Barra, CEO of General Motors. She’s a wife and mother, and the interviewer asked her how she could do that well and also run GM?

I don’t remember her words exactly, but she said she had learned a long time ago that every job will consume you, if you let it. I imagine there are nights she doesn’t make it home for dinner, she may not even cook dinner anymore, but she’s reportedly doing a great job managing GM without destroying her private life, and she’s been at it since 2014.

As the CEO, she can visit any GM facility anywhere in the world whenever she wants. She probably flies on private jets and stays in the best hotels, but she knows she has an even more important role at home and keeps GM’s demands under control.

Self-discipline is another important ingredient. Who will benefit if you burn yourself out? Isn’t life more than just working? When you can organize and manage things properly, it’s amazing how much you can accomplish without living at work. In my experience, the people who can’t do this aren’t very good at managing their private lives either. Even when they’re not working, they don’t have the time to do the things they should be doing.

So, I would contend, it’s not technology that enslaves us, but often our own lack of discipline and self-control. However, I should mention that not all bosses and companies are reasonable to work for. If you’re in such a position, it’s time for some serious examination. If there’s little chance things will improve soon, it may be time to look for something else.

If you still think technology is doing it to you, try shutting down all your electronics and doing your job without them. I’ll bet you’ll turn them back on quickly.

Ronald J. Bourque, a consultant and speaker from Salem, has had engagements throughout the United States, Europe and Asia. He can be reached at 603-898-1871 or RonBourque3@gmail.com.