Back

The Ghost in the Machine

  • Share This:

The Screens Between Us, Part 2

In today’s world of video calls and remote work, it can be difficult to remember how to navigate the intricacies of human interaction. This era of constant communication through screens has been praised for allowing those of us with introverted personalities due time in the sun. After all, workplace culture at large has typically favored extroverted characteristics—namely, social savviness.

Yet too much of a good thing may lead to disaster. The prevalence of incessant interaction through screens similarly pulls us away from balance, away from what Aristotle once described as the “Golden Mean,” the philosophy of which is depicted here by Crash Course.

By submerging deeper and deeper within virtual worlds, we unknowingly invite unexpected yet inevitable deficiencies, as suggested by this study published by Connecticut College. To counter these deficits, we ought to return to the aforementioned “Golden Mean” and seek the middle between extremes.

Our screens are useful, and their expanding presence in the world of work has been regularly celebrated for enhancing life quality in several ways. But we mustn’t forget that we are social creatures. We not only thrive on connection but are also buoyed by it in our darkest moments, as conveyed in this TED Talk by public speaker Molly Carroll.

The map that leads us closer to each other begins with sharing. If meeting with coworkers remotely, invite everyone to turn on their cameras. Aim to be real people—full of intricate mannerisms, energy, and life–not just static images on a screen.

“I admire machinery as much as any man and am as thankful to it as any man can be for what it does for us. But it will never be a substitute for the face of a man, with his soul in it, encouraging another man to be brave and true.”
– The Wreck of the Golden Mary, Charles Dickens

Do you have an idea you want to share with an empowered community of self-aware professionals? If you’d like to contribute an idea or article to ‘In The Flow of Work’ on the Evolve blog, just send us a message or submit a post to our Head of Content, Adam Schneider

Related Content

post thumbnail
In the Flow of Work
Hiring: Opposites Attract, But Like-Minded Last

The Right Fit How we integrate and interact with the people around us might largely depend on personality, both theirs and ours. This is true in personal relationships as well as professional. Despite the...

post thumbnail
Company News
Odgers Berndtson US and SurePeople Join Forces to Revolutionize Executive Onboarding With Artificial Intelligence (AI), Prism Psychometrics, and World-Class Content by Harvard

NEW YORK, September 26, 2023 (Newswire.com) Odgers Berndtson US and SurePeople are reinventing Executive Onboarding with the launch of a groundbreaking new program leveraging SurePeople’s award-winning platform, powered by the Prism® psychometric algorithm and Harvard...

post thumbnail
In the Flow of Work
Assimilation or Integration?

The Tetris of Onboarding Many organizations and leaders have varying perspectives and practices around team development and recruitment. While some allow for flexibility, congruous with the work-life balance desires of many workers today, others cater...

Man with beard resting head on hand, and a woman in the foreground, both looking up at a presentation.

Insights on People Analytics, Self-Mastery, High-Performance Teams and the Future of Work

Get insights delivered to your inbox.