We carry a more powerful computer in our pockets than it took to get to the moon. We have the ability to speak with friends and family from across the globe with the touch of a screen. With the rise of cellphones and companies like google, we have seen the downfall of the “dining room debate”. The merit sand pitfalls of having the world at your fingertips are hotly debated, no less so than when we analyze the use of devices in the workplace. When you work in a space where attention to your surroundings and the environment around you is critical, the debate becomes even more important.
Identifying the biggest pitfall of cellphones in the workplace is easy; it’s the distraction caused by the super-computer devices in our pockets. If you’re looking at a screen, you’re simply not looking at the world around you. We can see the implications of cell phone distraction everyday- think about the confidence that you have in the driver next to you talking or texting. If cell phones are a distraction on the road are they any less so on the airfield or while at work in the terminal? Probably not.
How do we combat it at work? The simple answer is one you’re probably expecting- just put it away. In the age of rapid-fire communication, does the simplest strategy work? Maybe, depending on life and home situations. The good news is there are strategies our employees can use to combat the distraction. Companies like a Apple and Samsung are ahead of us here; enabling functions like Apple’s “Focus” modes- that allow users to select which contacts may call or text or even limiting the number of notifications allowed while enabled. This allows those that may be the primary emergency contact for their families or loved ones to feel as though they can be contacted by the right people-should the need arise. It limits the need for those extra phone checks- just to make sure everything is fine.
Allowing for periods where the “put it away” model doesn’t apply can also reduce distraction by cell phones. By allowing employees to access their phones on breaks or in small increments throughout their shift we can help them regain focus throughout the day. This of course comes with a few caveats- it must always be safe to do so, it must not take away from the role they are preforming, and it must not interfere with responsibilities assigned to them.
By far the most efficient strategy for limiting cell phone use was self-mitigation inspired by already established social norms. In simpler terms- when we create an environment for our employees that does not accept cell phone distraction- we limit the amount of cell phone use in the workplace. When it is simply not acceptable- it’s far less likely to become a problem. These rules can be “unwritten” but modeled by supervisors and other leaders in the workplace. By engaging employees actively in the workplace we limit the need or desire for online social interactions throughout the day. This is a dynamic approach and involves asking open ended questions of our employees, about their day, their shift or even current news events. The strategy engaged here is to “flip” the interactions traditionally seen between supervisor and employee-where we may traditionally see the supervisor directing the conversation and engaging in most of the verbal conversation; here the employee should direct the conversation.
Limiting the distraction provided by cellphones may seem insurmountable today. There are everywhere, they are small, and in some ways we cannot function without them. Knowing the implications of cell phone distraction and knowing how to engage the workforce is the first step in providing a distraction free workplace. However, as with most things- leading by example cannot be understated.
