The fast life and its impact on relationships
No one can question the immensely positive impact technology has had on business and our lives. Communication is faster and easier. We can access information quicker. We can reach others more easily, etc. There are amazing advantages for all of us.
Relationships are being affected both positively and negatively. We can quite easily identify how relationships are benefiting, so let us rather explore some of the areas we need to focus on more closely:
With life being faster some of us are becoming more driven and task orientated. This may mean that we are less concerned about how we interact but just focus on problems or issues. We feel pressure to deliver or perform due to clients who have easy access to us through emails and sms. We may feel hounded – as if there is someone checking on us all the time and wanting feedback. We may become abrupt or irritated both with clients as well as our employees – and our family members!
We may also react too quickly with an sms back to the other person – giving our initial, often emotional reaction
We could find that we become stressed and anxious – as if we are being managed the whole time
So HOW do we go about ensuring our relationships are sustained?
Firstly, we need to remain aware of the fact that all business is about people. Unless we take time to nurture our business and work relationships we will have ongoing challenges. Certain industries eg retail, have a reputation for not being people friendly, but only bottom-line driven. And yet where would they be without us consumers? So first and foremost we need to remember that people bring us business and so our relationships come first.
Linked closely to this is our relationship with our employees. Unless we invest in our employees and get to know them and develop them we will continue to have high staff turnover which will impact on our service delivery to clients. After all who is doing the work? Our employees!
The key issue is for us to be aware of how we are responding to “the fast life”. When we are aware of how we react, it places us in a better position to try a different strategy, e.g. very analitical or driven people may become more task orientated and focus less on people. They will become even more analytical (or critical) or controlling. Easy going people may become more relaxed and indecisive. Very chatty people may become more scattered and unfocussed.
So take time to see what is happening to you in this fast life and how you are reacting to all the external pressures. What “pattern” is developing and how do you want to change this?
How about consciously slowing down and taking time to think before you react?
The content in this article was provided by Linda Germishuizen - Clinical and Industrial Psychologist, and founder of PsychMastery.
About PsychMastery:
I founded PsychMastery because I understand that being human can be quite a daunting journey. We live in a world that is changing rapidly. As a result the demands on us are significant. Without even realising it you can find yourself on a path that is so far removed from who you truly are. Or where you want to be. Unless you are aware of what is happening to you, the demands of life may dictate where you will end up. And when you wake up to the reality, years have passed by.
I observe how disconnected people are or feel. Either they are caught up on this ever moving treadmill coping in unhelpful ways. Or they are questioning whether this is what life is about. So many people seem to have lost touch with the essence of who they are beneath all the masks and defenses.
PsychMastery enables you to reconnect with the essence of who you are. I also help you to bring deeper meaning back into your life through the use of sacred ceremony. In this way, you will feel that there is divine presence guiding you. You will also feel a greater degree of community with the important people in your life.
For more information, contact:
Website: http://psychmastery.co.za/
Tel: 082 467 3214
Email: linda@psychmastery.co.za