“If you don’t know where you are going, any road will get you there.” (Lewis Carroll)

In 2007, Apple launched the iPod. A device designed to containerise music into one place allowing us to metaphorically have our entire music collection in our pocket to listen to whenever and wherever we wanted. It delivered convenience. It’s sole purpose was to eliminate the need to have to carry a music player and music (CD’s or cassettes). It simplified things.

In 2010 when the first iPhone was released it was designed to containerise into one device our music plus our mobile phone into a single device. It’s purpose, to simplify things.

Alice in Wonderland author, Lewis Carroll’s quote “if you don’t know where you are going, any road will get you there “ is worth reflecting on in relation to how we use, or don’t use, technology today.

We spend time considering and planning our next holiday, a car or home purchase but do not spend much time thinking strategically about the technology we use every day and whether it is truly serving or actually consuming us.

Whilst technology has its benefits, including the ability to connect with colleagues and to share and collaborate globally in an instant, the more time we spend on technology, the less time we have to spend on face to face human interaction.

Some may doubt the value of face to face, but nothing replaces the personal emotional connection you get from being part of human interactions. Superstars such as Beyoncé, Oprah and Alice Cooper know this. It’s easy to buy or stream their music but nothing replaces the personal emotional connection their fans get from experiencing their events.

What if we applied this approach on a regular basis to business? It doesn’t have to be a large-scale event, it can be as simple as a coffee or lunch (virtual at the moment of course!) get together with or without a conversation focus. In much the same way as a performer would release a new album for a concert tour or tour the ‘best of’ as a way to retain the personal connection with fans, we can easily do the same without organisations and our teams.

Donna works with organisations and teams who want their staff to be less stress and more productive with everyday technology created engaged and collaborative teams. For details on Donna’s virtual workshops and programs click here.