{"id":27627,"date":"2018-03-07T16:38:08","date_gmt":"2018-03-07T22:38:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/salesv4.aligntoday.com\/blog\/is-our-pace-of-life-getting-faster\/"},"modified":"2023-07-20T07:21:16","modified_gmt":"2023-07-20T12:21:16","slug":"is-our-pace-of-life-getting-faster","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aligntoday.com\/blog\/is-our-pace-of-life-getting-faster\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Our Pace of Life Getting Faster?"},"content":{"rendered":"

As modern technology enables instantaneous communication and being \u201con-call\u201d 24 hours a day, many people have wondered: is our pace of life getting faster? New forms of technology consistently emerge to help us complete tasks faster and optimize our time management, but how are they really affecting our lives?<\/p>\n

One\u00a0psychological study from 1999<\/a>\u00a0compared the pace of life in 31 major cities across the world, basing its analysis on three main indicators: the average walking speed in downtown areas, how quickly postal clerks completed basic tasks, and the accuracy of clocks in public places. They found that the\u00a0pace of life was faster<\/a>\u00a0in economically-developed countries, colder climates, and individualistic cultures. Japan and Western Europe were two areas that specifically stood out for having faster times.<\/p>\n

Another 2007 study found that around the world,\u00a0people are walking about 10% faster than they used to.<\/a>\u00a0Researchers identified that those who walk quickly are also more likely to speak fast and eat fast. They become impatient when waiting in lines or traffic, and they\u2019re more likely to wear a watch. Faster doesn\u2019t always equal better, as researchers found correlations between subjects with faster walking speeds and several negative health effects, like heart disease.<\/p>\n

What does this mean for us? Will these metrics transfer into our work activities as well? After all, various\u00a0business publications<\/a> have identified 8 ways to get work done faster and give advice on\u00a010 habits to help people learn twice as fast<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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It\u2019s hard to argue that how quickly your company can complete projects doesn\u2019t matter.\u00a0Speed can be the deciding factor<\/a>\u00a0that puts a company ahead of its competition.<\/p>\n

Many business executives are concerned that they won\u2019t be able to keep up with today\u2019s rapid-fire hyperactive pace. They worry that they can\u2019t match new\u00a0levels of innovation\u00a0or\u00a0maintain growth levels past the start-up stage.\u00a0After all, the\u00a0range of problems<\/a>\u00a0that young businesses face can seem vast.<\/p>\n

While our walking speed might be increasing, the idea that our pace of work is accelerating isn\u2019t as cut-and-dry as it seems. A 2015 Economist piece suggests that\u00a0there\u2019s little hard evidence that our pace of business is really getting faster<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The writers identified a variety of metrics to measure the speed of business in America including current CEO tenure, mutual-fund holding period, S&P 500 inventory days, and more. While they found that some of these measurements are advancing, others are not.<\/p>\n

They explain: \u201cThe result is a puzzle. Business people feel time is accelerating\u2014but the figures suggest they are largely talking guff.\u201d<\/p>\n

While we might perceive the pace of business life as getting faster, our perceptions may not match the data of reality.<\/p>\n

The good news? Technology helps people communicate and share information faster than ever. While actual business processes may not be advancing to the speed of light, technology can help companies adapt to changing expectations and make many of their processes more efficient.<\/p>\n

It makes good press to say that life is getting faster. People get worried, curious, and confused. But it seems like there\u2019s still a great deal of research that needs to be done before we can quantitatively say one way or the other if the pace of business, in all of its facets, is increasing.<\/p>\n

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If an accelerating pace of life is making things feel crazy at work, Align can help get your organization focused on executing strategic goals and moving towards long-term success.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

Discover the Power of Align: Book A Free No Obligation Personalized Demo Today<\/h2>\n\n