The new status symbol

There’s a new status symbol for the current generation. No, it’s not an alligator or a man on top of a horse playing polo. It’s not the expensive ostrich skin bag or the latest German-engineered car either. The new status symbol of the current generation is “BUSY-NESS.”

It seems totally respectable that we’re either busy or seemingly busy. Busy-ness has become a way of life.

We’re online all the time. We’re digitally connected every moment. Screens dominate our lives. We used to have just one kind of screen – age-old television. Now you and I look at multi screens every day. When I come home, I open my TV to the news; that would provide me background noise. Then I open my iMac, look at my cellphone and compare notes using my Ipad. Four screens! Who knows how many more will come in the near future? And as if screens aren’t enough, we now also have spectacles that are anything but spectacles! These have a small screen that tells the time, date, weather and temperature. Through voice recognition, these glasses enable the wearer to command the contact menu, dictate a message and send it via Facebook.

Do you think all these technological advancements are designed to lighten our workload? I doubt it. I think they’re all designed to challenge us to achieve more. This brings us to the “Busy Generation.”

Today we also have optical success – the look of success which doesn’t necessarily come with the feeling of it. We may look successful but don’t feel it. We may have achieved a lot, but a lot more is still expected from us. And the demand isn’t just for us to deliver more, but for us to deliver more faster. This brings us to a lot of achievements but little time to enjoy them.

Companies ask me to give talks on time management and balancing work-life under their wellness programs. They know very well that the pace at which their people are subjected would take its toll on them unless their people learn how to cope. I understand the demands on people in the work place. Digitally connected every moment, they – we – are tied to a 24-hour global clock.

Here’s what I have to say: There’s a great distinction between being busy and being productive. These two aren’t similar or correlated. It’s possible to simply be addicted to action and to have our zombie-like busy-ness, sustained by just caffeinated drinks, convince us that we’re productive. Busy-ness as a status looks purpose-driven, focused and hugely productive. But when you look closely, you’ll see that underneath the many activities are anxiety, confusion and distrust.

The new status symbol shouldn’t be busy-ness but productivity.

The leader’s job isn’t to force their people to produce more results in the least time. Quantity over quality of work isn’t necessarily useful. The leader’s job is to bring clarity to all the chaos.

Slow down and clarify issues. Communicate clearly. Sort out what’s important from what’s urgent. Don’t reward your people for action and speed. Reward them for value of performance rendered.

It’s good for leaders to stretch their people, and bring out their creativity and greatness. But it’s not good for leaders to stress their people, and force them into an unhealthy lifestyle of constant bewilderment and daze. Your people have families they care for; don’t let them go home to their loved ones in a zombie-like state of meaningless existence. Let them go home proud of working for a company that values their people, as what their corporate website claims.

Employees aren’t machines or computers. They need quality life too. Believe me, people who have a good balance of work and life activities turn out to be more productive and fulfilled. You’d be preparing them to become good leaders for the future as well.

(Francis Kong will do his highly acclaimed whole-day seminar “Culture of Personal Excellence” on Oct. 17, 2013 at CCF Makati, A-Venue Mall, Makati Avenue. For further inquiries, contact Inspire at 09158055910, or call 632-6310912 for details.)