Commentary by Pamela L. Dowell
55th Wing Equal Opportunity Office
3/7/2011 - OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. (AFNS) -- My adult children are into the latest and greatest advancements in technology, such as smartphones and tablet PCs. These devices are made to elevate us from the burden of time-consuming actions such as hearing someone's voice or laughter, or even a sigh of sadness.
We can use social media sites, texting, online chats and a long list of acronyms to communicate. My children want me to become technologically savvy, and I want a cell phone that calls people. We've come a long way in the communications arena from the telegraph to "OMG," ":-)" and "LOL."
With all these new, wonderful ways to communicate, are we losing our ability to "show" respect to one another?
When was the last time we actually listened to someone and truly heard them? Respect in the workplace isn't just about "thank you" and "please," although that's a start. Is there a chance technology is robbing us of our capacity to share ideas and opinions with others face to face?
We are busy people. After all, it is 2011, and we must do more with less. But does that "less" equate to our lack of respect for our co-workers? We need to take time to hear new ideas, work through complex issues as a team, and be there to hear what may not be said.
If we continue to live in a world of social media and text messages, how we can learn to respect the importance of both din and silence among our peers?
I challenge each of you to make the "art of listening" your newest communication skill. You may find out that others want to listen to you as well.
Comments
3/9/2011 11:26:32 AM ET I once had a SrA that I was attempting to mentor tune out so she could check her text message traffic with a boyfriend. That is a lack of respect. The problem is not the technology though it's the supervisors. If we as supervisors do not correct action like that on the spot then it will continue. The reason why some Airmen may be perceived as disrespectful is not because they choose to be or because they actually are. It is because they are taking a situation that we perceive as disrespectful as the social norm. They have grown up in an era where use of the cell phone and Facebook is common place. So if we want the respect to remain we have to make it happen. We have to work with the situation and learn to adapt instead of looking at it as they just don't respect the way things were.
Shawn, Randolph AFB
3/9/2011 10:13:04 AM ET While social media has its advantages in real time communication the drawbacks are the lack of grammatical proficiency. Social media sites provide a free form manner of communicating without regard to proper grammatical rules i.e. abbreviations emoticons text language etc . Unfortunately this translates to poor written and oral communications. Studies show todays entry level college students are below par with proper grammar. A majority still cannot spell correctly due to heavy reliance on spell check functions. The same with can be said with writing composition. Many still have problems writing completegrammatically correct sentences because all they know is how to write in social media language. If you cannot write correctly you certainly will not speak correctly.
Steve, Tampa
3/9/2011 8:37:44 AM ET We should always embrace technology where it makes sense. However, technological advances should never replace common sense. Courtesy and respect are timeless qualities irrespective of how we communicate with one another.
Eric Carlson, Randolph AFB TX
3/8/2011 4:02:18 PM ET Totally agree with the message but wish corporate AF would heed the message as well. Our Airmen find out they have been promoted via web site. The days of a commander being able to look in their eye and congratulate them and show respect are gone. Assignment notifications are done via email MPF and finance actions are done with a few key strokes. I'm all for efficiency but constantly replacing human contact with technology is not sending the right message.
Col A, SA
3/8/2011 12:15:41 PM ET Seems the older generation looks at Facebook as a threat but the younger generations live out there. To borrow an old adage - lead, follow or get out of the way ... all you folks who think social media is the enemy, get out there and immerse yourselves in it because that's the best way you can learn about and communicate with your people.
PB, US
3/8/2011 11:31:43 AM ET Thank you to the Author and Lt. Col Alexander. As a service member with 28 years of experience I am saddened by the technology blitz that is sapping the identiy out of each and everyone of our airman. I understand the need for technological growth in our war fighting capabilites, however, if we don't work to keep our units humanized the enemy has already won. Do you really think any military member would honor the charge command from their facebook page?
SB , South Dakota
3/8/2011 11:07:31 AM ET I can understand the message here but I am wondering why the positives of social media are not stressed here as well. Social media is offering many more ways to listen to the people we know. There is no disrespect in this. If people want to maintain their distance in whatever forum then social media isn't for them. Also texting is not much different from people e-mailing each other. Today's generation is driven by constant communication. The days of keeping information to yourself as some form of power over another is pretty much over. I agree we need to know the art of listening but we cannot ignore social media's benefits because it opens our world well beyond the confines of going to work and going home every day. Stay in touch, listen, but most importantly, keep up with the times.
MSgt, Scott AFB Ill.
3/8/2011 9:41:52 AM ET I don't think it's so much as technology has replaced respect. I think the preasure to do more with less has replaced our respect. For instance different things in our office we have lots of different things to do and when we come up with a problem we don't have the time to stop doing the things other people are working on and focusing on fixing it. Instead we have to do whatever we can to fix it fast.
Monty, south carolina
3/8/2011 8:34:59 AM ET Thank you for your thoughts on social respect in the workplace. I believe we see this behavior very often that is really challenging in today's fast moving and rapidly changing environment. If we lose our human aspect of what makes us unique as humans than machines programs will transform us into mere avatars of our business ego and leave human sense behind. One last thing that I would have added to this article is tolerance as I see less and less of it in anymore.
