Why So Many Excuses With Virtual Work?
In the digital world you will most certainly shot yourself in the foot if you close yourself off. There will be less to prevent you from doing so. Let’s take a look at excuses and see how they fit in your box. Excuses in the digitally world come in all shapes and sizes are some are so common that they are worth listing here for you.
Attention: if you hear yourself saying any of these it means you are in danger of reacting to situations instead of acting or responding. Whether it is working virtually or for learning online, excuses are barriers to your success. Do any of these sound all too familiar?
- “There is something wrong with the technology. It doesn’t work, it is down, it doesn’t function the way it should, the power is out, the time is different, the sound doesn’t work, the reception is bad…whatever…the technology has let me down. I cannot accomplish what it is I am supposed to accomplish and it is not my fault. It is the fault of the technology. I blame the technology for my failure or my inability to do what it is I said I was going to do, therefore I am off the hook.”
- “I am having personal life difficulties. My child, parents, spouse, neighbor, contractor or friend is making my life uncontrollable. I cannot do or accomplish or live up to what I said I wanted to accomplish because these people are infringing on my time. I have to do something else because of them, and that is forcing me to be unable to live up to the commitment I made. They are the problem not me because they distract me.”
- “I cannot complete what it is I said I would do or attend the conference or class I said I would attend. I cannot get the report to you or complete the agreed upon task on time because some other aspect of my work has taken over my time, life, ability to get this done. We just took on a new client and I am swamped, I got a new assignment and that takes up all my time, I am traveling more now you know…I am in a new position and I have more responsibility that I did so I cannot get it done, my plate is too full. It is not my fault; my other work is to blame for my inability to deliver this project on time.”
- “I am in some way hindered by an illness, accident, ache, pain or incapacity that has to do with my physical health. I have migraines, stomach trouble, back problems, a cold, the flue, insomnia or a sprained ankle. I am physically incapable of doing what I said I would do therefore I am off the hook. I can’t help it I am sick, injured or out of commission. Not my fault.”
- “I just don’t have time. I am so busy it is overwhelming. I underestimated the amount of time it takes to study, read, prepare, meet online, and participate. I didn’t take into consideration I have three children, ages; four, six and eight at home and that working from home would require time. I am not sure where the time goes. I get up early and I put a lot of time into this and I just never seem to get it done. It just takes up so much time. I just don’t have enough time. It’s not my fault there are only 24 hours in a day.”
- “This is not what I thought it would be. My perception of working remotely was very different than what it actually is. I miss the office talks, the people, the conversation. I thought this was going to be something and it turned out to be something different. I don’t like it, I feel uncomfortable. It is not my fault I am not successful at it. It isn’t what I expected and therefore I am not responsible for not being successful.”
With the Pajama Effect you are psychologically in a more vulnerable state. Think about being in your pajamas. How do you feel? You are alone or at least in the company of a few comfortable friends or family members. You are more open, more susceptible to being seen just as you are. You are more exposed to your own idiosyncrasies and excuses. You do not have on your work persona and have not dressed in the armor either physically or psychologically to do battle in the outside world. You are a bit more sensitive both to external and internal influences. This vulnerability is influenced by both the potential impact of an event or situation, and the adaptive capacity of the person. If the technology goes down what do you do? Do you go to Starbucks®, the library, or your neighbor’s house? Do you borrow a computer from the kids, go to the local high school or call friend? Or do you just say “I can’t or won’t adapt. This is an outside influence and there is nothing I can do to change the situation.” #VirtualWork #RemoteWork #PJEffect WFH #NSFW #ThePajamaEffect
