Which of the two provide contractors with the best return on investment: technology or people? Are we relying more upon technology to the get job done or our people skills?
Technology has created a very unique problem we should be aware of. You’ve heard the term isolationist. An isolationist doctrine is isolating one’s country from the affairs of other nations by declining to enter into alliances, foreign economic commitments, and international agreements.
As we see more and more people in our business relying upon technology they are becoming more isolated. In other words, people are interacting with one another differently and less than they did before. Most communication is done electronically today rather than in person. People in the same room or same job trailer send information back and forth rather than walking ten feet to talk to a co-worker. Interpersonal skills are on a decline as people become more and more isolated through the overuse of technology.
The People vs. Technology
Today we submit our daily logs, billings, change orders, reports, and many other documents electronically rather than in person. We send tons of email correspondence identifying project problems. Day after day we dump stuff on our clients, and co-workers and they in turn dump stuff on us electronically rather than in person. Project management software is designed to better manage projects; however, it doesn’t necessarily improve communication or relationships.
As technology continues to evolve, will people become even more isolated than they are now?
How important is it for people to meet together regularly to develop:
- Vision: Get people on board to having a similar project vision
- Honesty: Develop trust between everyone involved in a project
- Problem Solving: Find fair solutions to project problems
- Commitment: Make things happen that are good
- Communication: Walking, talking and keeping all lines of communication open at all times
- Relationships: Continually develop relationships
- Strategy: Continually monitor people and their attitude
Vision
Getting everyone on your team to have the same project vision as you do is impossible unless they see it in your eyes.
Honesty
Honesty is the precursor to someone trusting you, and without it, they won’t. Developing trust requires your physical presence.
Problem Solving
There are two types of problems: technical and personal. At times you can solve a technical problem electronically, but rarely can you resolve a conflict unless you’re in the same room with the person(s).
Commitment
You can try to put in writing how committed you are to a project, person or problem but nothing speaks louder than you being there.
Communication
There will never be a substitute for face-to-face communication when it comes to serious situations.
Relationships
There always comes a time when people have to meet to see if they are who they write they are.
Strategy
Monitoring people and their attitudes electronically usually results in mistaken conclusions.
Technology is Good
People get upset when I refer to technology in our business as important as intermittent windshield wipers. I can’t imagine not having intermittent windshield wipers in Washington State. As well, I really like heated car seats, leather interior and halogen lights and I wouldn’t buy a car or truck without these features, but none of these features isolate me from other people.
I also like a variety of software products but I have to admit I have to be very conscious about communicating electronically. I have to be intentional about calling family members otherwise I get into an email or texting rut.
Utilizing technology the same way in which you utilize some feature on your car is a good thing, but utilizing technology to the point that it isolates you from others is a bad thing.
In other words, technology is like a hammer or any tool in your toolbox, you use it to do something and then you put it away. Balance, is what we’re talking about. We need to know when to use technology and when not to use it.
Return on Relationships
You can somewhat calculate the return on your investment for the project management, estimating or accounting software you bought or the scheduling or BIM software you bought.
Yet, can we calculate what we’re losing on the relational investment side as people become more and more isolated from clients and co-workers? Does your company have a policy identifying when technology should and shouldn’t be used?
Investing in technology is good and it’s likely to help produce a return, however, as people become more isolated there is a loss to be counted.
A balance between technology isolation and your physical presence to accomplish the following are keys to developing relationships between co-workers and clients:
- Vision: Get people on board to having a similar project vision
- Honesty: Develop trust between everyone involved in a project
- Problem Solving: Find fair solutions to project problems
- Commitment: Make things happen that are good
- Communication: Walk, talk, and keep all lines of communication open at all times
- Relationships: Continually develop relationships
- Strategy: Continually monitor people and their attitude
Consider bucking the technology driven trend to physically disconnect from people and move towards making your company a truly relational group of people.
