There was a story on the BBC website regarding the safe use of mobile phones when driving.
Apparently, there are still those who hold the phone to their ears. There are those who read emails and text too. It’s all to do, or so it’s claimed, with the concept of working over and above that which is normally required.
Maybe I’m the exception to the rule as I have a wonderful and 100% safe way of using a phone whilst driving.
Switch it off.
It all goes back to a Friday afternoon on the M25 last year when I was happily talking away on my Bluetooth kit to a friend of mine. And totally failed to realise I’d just driven past the junction for the M40. Since then I’ve had the phone switched off. No more beeps as an email arrives and no more distractions.
But I hear you say, I could possibly miss an important call? Yes, I could. For at least two hours i.e. in between motorway service stations anyway. Will the world end in those 2 hours? Doubtful.
Modern Technology
Modern technology is great. You can be in constant communication with anyone, anywhere in the world. I have clients who email me at obscure times of the day. As consultant surgeons, they don’t exactly work 9-5 hours. I email them at odd times too. But seldom does an email require an immediate response either from them or to them. Of course, it requires a response at some point but it does not require a knee-jerk reaction. Most likely the best thing to do is not respond immediately anyway. Much better to understand the issue and then give a measured and fully considered response for the client’s benefit. Much better for my clients and much better for my business.
My clients are the single most important thing in my business. They require total commitment and a consistently high level of service. Just the same as any business.
Yet this concept of working over and above normal requirements to satisfy a client persists. I’m not against working really long hours. I’m absolutely not against providing an extremely high level of service. I do it. My clients provide an incredibly high level of care to their patients i.e. they do it too.
What I am against is this notion that working really long hours and answering the phone or emails proves dedication to a task. I suggest in reality, long hours may prove counterproductive sometimes or in the case of using a phone/answering emails etc whilst driving proves there is always an accident just waiting to happen or a motorway junction to miss.