Going Cold BlackBerry

I think the poor people with BlackBerries are quite rightly called CrackBerries - they are addicted to them. The expectation has become that if you get an email at 11:30 at night or on Sunday afternoon while the footy is on or while your on holiday YOU MUST RESPOND. The simple point is you don't have to. Everyone is entitled to some time of your own. In most cases, if not all, the world or the company won't come to an end if you don't answer an email - if it's that urgent they'll ring.

The solution lies in the hands of the users; don't look at it until you start work, don't look at it when you've left work in the evenings and don't look at it when you are on holiday. Yes - I check my email when I'm on holiday, I'm self employed and if I don't I might miss a work opportunity, but I do it as a 'pull' not a 'push' and at a time of my choosing.

Sitting on the train you see the electronic leash snap and the reply dashed off. Do not be a Crackberry, ignor it, read the paper, have a coffee it won't be the end of the world.

You're quite right Chris, of course. But isn't there also a transaction going on here? Aren't those of us who are addicted to our mobile messaging device (I'm not sure what the equivalent of a Crackberry is for the iPhone generation) doing a deal with our employers so we can be more flexible about our working hours in exchange for being more immediately accessible?

And our employers are encouraging this because they get more value from us for the meagre cost of providing push email and giving us a mobile device. Ultimately it's our own personal choice.

But what advice can we provide for those who are self-employed? - or in my case working in a portfolio of many roles across commercial enterprises, SME's, public sector organisations, academia and charities.

My personal service level target for turning around emails is around half a day, as I can usually handle them when a meeting takes a longer break or when I travel on to the next location. Of course some emails need more research or consideration, or more structuring or attachments that aren't readily available via a Blackberry, but these are the exception. In my experience a timely response helps to keep the momentum we need for change, which too many organisations lack.

In many ways I like the freedom that my Blackberry provides, because I can prioritise and respond in a way that suits me and the people i'm working with. This earns me the right for people not to ask where I am at any time, or how many hours and minutes I'm clocked on. They are usually more than happy that I am always contactable and that I respond when others dont. I don't find this is misused.

But what do we usually do with this freedom? Probably even more 'work'........but then life needs to be challenging and rewarding - and don't we choose to do what we do....? 

www.BryanFoss.com

very true chris, blackberries are a addiction, however i took the bold step of only enabling personal email on my own blackberry, I actually opted out of the company blackberry scheme on joining and i simply ask any mailers to txt me on my mobile, this really acts as a strong filter for urgent enquires. I work long hours anyway, i dont want to extend my day further and i find the TXT option means i only get bothered in real emergencies.