Technological Self–Defence: How Not to Be Overwhelmed by the Pace of Innovation

THE PACE OF INNOVATION TODAY RESEMBLES A TREADMILL SET TO THE SPEED OF A CHEETAH. WE TRY TO KEEP UP, OCCASIONALLY STUMBLE, AND SOMETIMES GET THROWN OFF ALTOGETHER. YET ALL IT TAKES IS ACCEPTING THE IDEA THAT WE DO NOT HAVE TO MASTER EVERYTHING IMMEDIATELY – WE ARE NOT COMPETING IN THE OLYMPICS.

One of the greatest pressures is the expectation that we will instantly adapt to every new development. At work, this may mean receiving an email about a new system, and before you have even had time to open the manual, you are already expected to be an expert. At home, another typical scenario: you buy a smart TV and discover it is so ‘smart’ that you get lost in its menu as if wandering through an IKEA warehouse.

Mental resilience grows when we allow ourselves to learn gradually. Small steps, no leaps. Think of it as breaking a bar of chocolate into individual squares – it is much easier to eat than trying to bite through the whole bar at once. Most importantly, asking for help is not a sign of weakness. One colleague may be brilliant at explaining new developments in a way that even a grandmother would understand. Another colleague may enjoy trying out new things and sharing her experience. So why not join forces?

And here is another everyday experience: when someone who considers themselves an expert is explaining a new digital tool to someone else, the learner’s reaction – ‘This is easy, I’ll remember it’ – is universal. And we all know that, in most cases, they will not remember it. And that is perfectly fine! That is simply how it is.

TIP

With every new technology, set yourself one small goal that you can achieve within ten minutes. Nothing more. The brain loves small victories – and these, in turn, help strengthen our resilience.

Hlava říká musím. Emoce říkají nechci

Ing. Petra Crhák, Ph.D.,

Coach, Supervisor, Director, Asociace integrativních koučů, z.s. https://petracrhak.com/ Podcast: Petra Crhák Talks Foto: Jiří Malík

Vnitřní konflikty málokdy vypadají jako konflikty. Často se totiž schovávají za pracovitost, zodpovědnost nebo tichou jistotu, že „já to přece zvládnu“. A přesto někde uvnitř probíhá nenápadný boj. A když hlava říká MUSÍM, emoce šeptají: NECHCI. Ve praxi kouče praxi tenhle rozpor potkávám stále dokola. A většinou nepřichází jako velká životní krize. Ukazuje se v maličkostech… Pomůžeme s dotazem kolegovi, i když už nemáme kapacitu. Řekneme ano na další úkol, přestože bychom nejraději řekli ne. Pokračujeme ve výkonu, i když bychom potřebovali zastavit. A po čase už ten konflikt ani nevnímáme. Prostě tak žijeme. Možná ale nemusíme hned dávat výpověď, měnit vztahy nebo převracet život vzhůru nohama. Můžeme začít mnohem menší otázkou: Která moje část teď mluví? Ta unavená? Ta, která má strach? Nebo ta, která nechce zklamat ostatní? A pak na chvíli zastavit, neposuzovat a jen se zaposlouchat. Vnitřní klid totiž nevzniká tím, že jeden hlas umlčíme. Ale tím, že konečně začneme poslouchat a respektovat všechny. Který svůj hlas už dlouho neposloucháte? A kdy jste naposledy cítili, že to, co děláte, a to, co doopravdy chcete, jsou dvě různé věci?

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The Head Says I Have to. Emotions Say I Don’t Want to.

Inner conflicts rarely look like conflicts. They often hide behind hard work, responsibility or the quiet certainty of ‘I can handle it’. And yet, somewhere inside, a subtle struggle is taking place. And when the head says: I HAVE TO, emotions whisper: I DON’T WANT TO. In my coaching practice, I encounter this conflict time and again. And it usually doesn’t come in the form of a major life crisis. It shows up in the little things. We help a colleague with a question even though we no longer have the capacity. We say yes to another task, even though we would much rather say no. We keep pushing ourselves even when we need to stop. And after a while, we no longer even notice the conflict. We simply live this way. But perhaps we don’t need to quit our jobs, change our relationships or turn our lives upside down straight away. We can start with a much smaller question: Which part of me is speaking right now? The tired part? The part that is afraid? Or the part that doesn’t want to disappoint others? And then pause for a moment, without judging, and simply listen. Inner peace does not come from silencing one voice. It comes from finally beginning to listen to and respect them all. Which of your own voices have you not listened to for a long time? And when was the last time you felt that what you were doing and what you truly wanted were two different things?