By Steve Adubato, PhD

BlackBerrys are everywhere. You are not seen as a serious professional unless you have one and I am embarrassed to admit that I recently got one after resisting it for the longest time. But now that I have a BlackBerry, I’m beginning to learn that while it is a tremendous communication tool, like most new technology, getting it right is a lot harder than just getting it.

Let’s consider some of the pros and cons of BlackBerrys in the world of communication.

Pros

• You can stay in contact on a 24/7 basis. (That’s both good and bad.) If a client or prospect reaches out, you can let acknowledge them and will get back to them later in the day. You can also give a quick response to a simple question. Responding within the hour from your BlackBerry sends the message that you care and are concerned about the sender’s needs.

• It is a lot easier to manage more clients and customers than ever before with a BlackBerry. You can send instant e-mails and text messages, as well as attachments that used to take forever—first by snail mail, then by fax and most recently by the computer that you had to wait to view until you got home or back in the office

• BlackBerrys make us more productive than ever before. We are able to multitask like crazy and use our time more effectively. What about long rides where you are a passenger in a car or train or just hanging around waiting at the airport. That BlackBerry is a gold mine. In some ways, it is even more efficient and effective than a cell phone, which can cause you to get drawn into a long conversation.

• The BlackBerry allows instant access to important and relevant information. You can see business news, national affairs, check the stock market or the score in the Yankee game. (Then again, that wouldn’t be too much fun these days.)

Cons

• Too many of us abuse BlackBerrys and won’t put them down. We are playing with them in meetings and during lunches and dinners with clients, prospects and friends.

• BlackBerrys interfere with family time and can adversely impact relationships. They are intrusive and won’t stop sending you messages. They are a huge distraction and cause people to be rude and inconsiderate to others and can adversely impact our listening. They stop us from being truly present and in the moment in the way we need to connect with others on a meaningful level. Don’t kid yourself, BlackBerrys can become an addiction, and when they do, nothing good happens.

• There are times we SHOULD pick up the phone and call instead of replying via BlackBerry. Just because the BlackBerry is easier doesn’t always make it more effective.

• Some people type really long text messages or e-mails via the BlackBerry, which is usually a bad idea, because the response is also long and then the communication process only gets more complicated.

My advice is to use your BlackBerry to help you communicate in ways that make your professional and personal life easier and more manageable. Yet, at the same time, you need to manage your BlackBerry. You’ve got to put it down and turn it off. You’ve got to accept that if it is a real emergency and someone needs to get you right away, they will find you. Remember, technology can be a great communication tool, but sometimes there is no substitute for making a powerful and personal human connection, which means we have to actually talk to each other.

Write to me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and describe your experience with a BlackBerry.