The way on how you use technology doesn’t only reflect your personality, but your company and its reputation as well. Today, technology has indeed taken over our lives instead of us being controlling technology. How many individuals have you bumped into because they were texting while walking? Have you already forgotten a dinner date with your wife because you got preoccupied responding to work emails? Technology is indeed a very powerful tool- only when it is controlled. Here are a few handy tech rules for small business owners and entrepreneurs.
Disconnect every work application as soon as you leave the office.
Because of tabs, and smart phones, entrepreneurs are now able to access their work 24/7. Remaining accessible beyond your 10 or 12 hour work day will not only affect the quality of your life, but also your decision making skills. Opt to disconnect from any office application for the night.
Tweet or share personal Facebook status after work hours.
There are some companies that allow their employees to do personal things (e.g. check their Twitter or Facebook accounts) during the day. This may sound cool but results to reduced efficiency for employees and businesses. Think about the benefits of ‘work belongs to work’. Don’t let employees bring their work at home. Make them leave the office on time, get a rich life outside the workplace, and come back refreshed and ready for work the next day.
Keep emails concise and off the screen.
Email is a good way to correspond with other people because it is quick and less obtrusive compared to calling. But when you lose control over the use of it, it diverts your focus away from work.
Office related tweets and texts must be quick and proper.
In business, it is crucial that you have fast creative thinking. Tech users these days have to strike a balance between complex and rapid communication. Customers who want feedback don’t accept half baked answers. They want the right responses fast.
Interaction isn’t engagement.
A lot of business owners think that being omnipresent is the key to a successful business. A Facebook fanpage is an indicator of how many people know your brand, but doesn’t really translate to how many consumers care about your brand. Technology may help you win the first sale but it is how you use it that will make people come back for more.
Technology is indeed a powerful tool, but only as powerful as the human mind can control it. Regain control over tech tools and make it work for your business rather than against it.