5 Social Skills Technology is Destroying

1. Eye contact
Too much of it is creepy, but not enough is even creepier. Being able to sustain eye contact well, and know when it’s appropriate, is a vital social tool. Good luck getting past an interview if you don’t know how to look people in the eyes. It’s just one more thing that looking at screens for more than 10 hours a day has taken away from people, the ability to know what to look at when holding down a conversation.

2.  Phone skills
When I say phone skills, I don’t mean how fast you can text, or Instagram a picture of that lovely cake you just baked. I mean your ability to actually speak on the phone. In initial professional phone conversations, and emails, it’s important to introduce yourself, and be as detailed, yet concise as possible. Get straight to the point, and don’t leave anybody guessing.

3. Conversation
The art of conversation is one skill many members of Gen Y lack. Asking questions about others, actively listening, and being able to read other peoples physical social cues, are all part of being a skilled conversationalist. The constant compulsion to look at a screen, that some members of Gen Y are plagued with, does not give those that interact with them the impression that they are invested in the present conversation.

4. Spatial Awareness
We’ve all seen her, the girl at the grocery store, standing in the middle of the aisle, forcing everyone to labour around her, while she frantically texts or chats on her phone. Well, this kind of behaviour can be irritating at the office as well. The one member of the office who constantly leaves their chair out for you to run into, or leaves their stuff scattered around the break room, can get on the nerves of others.

5. Attention Span
Short attention spans affect so many aspects of young people’s everyday life. From an inability to maintain jobs for extended periods of time, to the inability to write congruent reports, this hashtag culture we currently live in, definitely has some downsides. It’s obvious when someone is bored, either with their work, in a meeting, or in a dialogue. Not being able to muster up some sustained interest and enthusiasm isn’t going to win you a seat at the table. Not everything worthwhile can be conveyed in 140 characters or less.