Overloaded with technology, overwhelmed at work!

1. Overloaded with technology,
overwhelmed at work!
With a cluttered desk and an even more
cluttered mind, you too can be classified as
an 'overwhelmed employee'. So, take note
before it takes you over!

2. • We live in an overwhelmed world with more than what we
can handle. Being way too busy has become a way of life;
be it due to the excess amount of work we have taken upon
us or the way technology is being thrown at us. Such an
overdose of work and technology has also led to the
creation of a new kind of employee, which is the
'overwhelmed employee'. In a research study conducted on
Global Human Capital Trends, 65-75 per cent of the
organisations surveyed identified with this issue. With
mobile phones, email, text messages, global teams,
conference calls, social media, and even watches talking to
us, there is so much stuff coming at us. We are constantly
flooded and can't get our work done. Does this ring a bell?

3. Contd...
• According to this study , it is noted that information overload and
the 247 work environment are overwhelming workers, hence,
undermining productivity and contributing to low employee
engagement. It was noted that, more than half (57 per cent) of
interruptions at work resulted from either social-media tools or
switching among disparate standalone applications. Also, according
to the Kleiner Perkins Caufield Byers' 2013 Internet Trends report,
the typical user checks hisher phone approximately 150 times every
day .
• Phone checking instils a sense of an inner reward from scoring a
personal, newsworthy or gossipy email or social-media notification.
However, this type of smartphone preoccupation is an 'addictive'
behaviour it's not only a time waster, it also is a direct contributor
to feeling overwhelmed.

4. Contd...
• According to Hema Parikh, director HR, Ajuba Solutions
India Pvt Ltd, 'overwhelmed' is a blanket term for
employees who are typically disengaged, underproductive
and cynical. “More often than not, these are employees
who are easily the best performers, but are on the verge of
getting burnt out. In a digitally connected world as ours,
employees tend to feel burdened with the sheer amount of
information that they are tasked to handle. As a result, it
feels like a lot of work is on the plate and employees tend
to get stressed out. A simple way of identifying an
overwhelmed employee is, reduced productivity , average
or poor quality of work, missed deadlines, absenteeism,
lower levels of engagement and overall dissatisfaction,“ she
says.

5. Contd...
• Talking about what actually creates an overwhelmed
employee, Pavan Choudary, CEO and managing director of
Vygon India Pvt Ltd and author of 'How a good person can
really win', shares, “The overwhelmed employee's calendar
is full. Hisher desk is also often overflowing with paper and
products. Heshe could often miss deadlines and be late for
meetings. To be fair, heshe is often the employee who
doesn't know how to say 'no'. Other attributes could be
poor time management, uncooperative colleagues, lack of
skills which could increase hisher efficiency or personal
problems of some sort.“
• This is a critical issue and a coping mechanism for the same
becomes a necessity .

8. Contd...
• Companies need a purposeful approach to help employees
identify and manage the triggers that lead to the feeling of
being overwhelmed. The need of the hour is to simplify the
work environment, create more flexible work standards,
and teach workers how to prioritise.
• Workplace distraction is usually inevitable. One way to curb
this is by setting clear goals, priorities and deadlines to
monitor progress. While managers must avoid
micromanaging, they must also keep constant open
communication with their employees to ensure that the
goals are met and that they are available for their team
members when teams need their support. On an individual
level, it would help if people organise or structure their day
into a standard routine, suggests Parikh.

9. Contd...
• “This may seem impossible, considering how much ad-
hoc work we face each day , but planning and an
organised process helps in prioritising work despite
distraction. Last, but not the least, is team work. Team
goals and cohesiveness help in delivering best results;
it is the team's positive aura that can keep all
distractions at bay and help you achieve the desired
results,“ she explains.
• So, declutter your mind and do away with unnecessary
technology at work, as this is the way to step out of the
zone of an overwhelmed employee.

10. Parveen Kumar Chadha… THINK TANK
(Founder and C.E.O of Saxbee Consultants & Other-Mother
marketingandcommunicationconsultants.com)
Email :-saxbeeconsultants@gmail.com
Mobile No. +91-9818308353
Address:-First Floor G-20(A), Kirti Nagar, New Delhi India Postal Code-110015