Why is the BlackBerry the top selling smartphone in the U.S.? Ask any true geek, and he or she can list you a hundred reasons why they love their BlackBerry.
They’ll talk about how it makes working from the road easy, how it helps them get a hold of their email, how the always-on connection means that they can put out fires before they spread. In short, a BlackBerry can create an environment of productivity in your life. That is, if you use it wisely.
What do I mean when I say “use it wisely”? Simply, that the BlackBerry is a highly customizable device. There are hundreds, even thousands of applications which can turn your simple email, phone, and Internet device into a portable office. You literally can control your business from the palm of your hand. This means that, if used optimally, the BlackBerry can make you work harder, faster, smarter. It’s up to you to make use of it in that manner.
The Addiction Factor
Many think that BlackBerry devices can actually be counterproductive. For statrers, some posit that the device can be addictive in the say way as drugs. This, though, is a fallacy. Yes, people might seem to be attached to a BlackBerry. For most people, though, this is not the case.
Imagine that instead of giving workers BlackBerry devices, a company gave them drugs — say, Adderall, an amphetamine prescribed to those with attention deficit disorder. The company says here, this will make you more productive. Well, some people are going to become addicted to that drug. Chances are, it’s the same people that become addicted to their BlackBerry.
That is to say, it might not be the device that is addictive, but rather the user that is addictive. But we don’t ban Adderall because some people might become addicted to it. That denies the drug to those whom it will benefit. The same applies for BlackBerry. It might be addictive for some, but that is not representative of the BlackBerry using population.
The Always-On Factor
It seems that rather than reducing work time — that is, creating a more efficient working environment — BlackBerry devices are causing people to work longer hours. This is because of the always-on factor. Because the company pays for the phone, people tend to use it as their primary communications device. This means carrying it everywhere, and, hence, checking email whenever that little LED flashes red.
Not only does it cause people to work longer hours, but it fractures focus in the workplace. Each new email means something new to think about, and possibly something to act on. Our brains will simply tire out after it receives too much input too rapidly. This helps explain why we’re working longer. Because of the always-on and instantaneous nature of the BlackBerry, we’re spreading our focus far too thin.
It’s about the user, not the device
So how can we consider the BlackBerry a productivity panacea if studies suggest that it’s causing us to work longer, less efficiently, and with signs of addictive traits? There’s actually a simple answer for this, and a simple solution.
It relates right back to the user.
The problem isn’t with the BlackBerry, it’s with how we use the BlackBerry. If we feel compelled to check the device every four minutes, we’re going to display addictive traits. If we must check emails even after working hours, we’re going to end up working longer. If we act upon every email as it hits our inboxes, we’re going to have a divided focus.
That can all change, though. Renowned 19th century philosopher William James said that “a human being can alter his life by altering his attitudes of mind.” It’s all about how we think about and act with the device. We cannot let it become a vice, lest its true purpose will be squandered.
If we approach the BlackBerry differently, it can turn into the productivity haven we’ve been seeking since the dawn of business. We can get things done in less time, not more. We can focus on one thing at a time, not many. And in doing so, we can gain control over our lives.
Getting things done
In his famous book, Getting Things Done, David Allen teaches us lessons for a more productive lifestyle. One of these methods is by using a single inbox to collect data. Incidentally, BlackBerry provides you with a single place to have all of your messages delivered. You are one click away from all of your input. And that’s where a lot of people go astray.
The key is to not check your emails right as they come in. There are exceptions, of course, for urgent emails that simply cannot wait. That will always happen in business. But as a general rule, do not open your email when you receive it. The sender will understand. It’s likely that he or she doesn’t respond to emails the second they’re sent.
Instead, set designated times to check your email. And when you do, decide what you want to do with it. Does it require immediate action? Can it be deferred? Should you delegate it? These are all things you can do right from your BlackBerry device.
If the email is more relevant to someone else in your company, forward it to them. If it is something that you need to follow up on, make a note on your calendar of when you will follow up, and place the email in a folder. Similarly, if it can be deferred until later, place it in the proper folder, which you’ll check every so often, to see when you do need to follow up on these items.
Taking Action
But perhaps the most important part of this is your “next actions” list. Some emails will require you to take an action. It might not be of an immediate nature, but it will require an action in some way or another. Thankfully, BlackBerry comes equipped with a perfect, simple program to store this list: Tasks. Every time you need to add an action item, go into your tasks application and add it. When you open the application, it will list all the actions you need to take.
This is perhaps the most important aspect of productivity. Contrary to the belief of many BlackBerry-toting workers, productivity is not checking your BlackBerry every 30 seconds. Productivity is crossing things off of your action list. But how can you do that if you’re constantly checking email? You can’t. That’s why it’s important to only check your email at designated times. That way, you can use the in-between time to do the tasks that require action.
Remember, your job is not to read emails, even though you have a device which is perfect for doing just that. Your job is to get things done. Getting things done requires action, not a constant sifting through messages which may or may not be relevant to your work.
The Next Steps
This is only a basic primer in how to become more productive with your BlackBerry. It is intended to destroy myths of the device’s evil, and show you that you are the one who controls the device, and not the other way around. It is only when we realize the true potential of ourselves that we can realize the true potential of the device.
As I said, there are so many applications that can aid your productivity. We only touched on two in this piece, and they are both native applications: Messages and Tasks. Next time, we’ll get to productivity software that you can use. But only after you have mastered the basics.
Joe is the Senior Editor of BBGeeks.com – a website dedicated to all things BlackBerry including news, software reviews, provider reviews and more.
photo credit: zombiefactory
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