Is Your Technology Destroying Your Team's Productivity? ft. Glenn Keller

IT Leaders

In his talk, “Is Your Technology Destroying Your Team's Productivity?” Glenn Keller, Director of Information Technology at CountryMark, explores the unintended consequences of technology on workplace efficiency. He opens with a critique of modern work culture, noting that, despite technological advancements, productivity gains have stalled, leaving workers with long hours rather than the reduced workload many had anticipated. Keller introduces the concept of "consuming the advantage," where each technological benefit, like email or mobile phones, introduces new layers of friction, from endless meetings to multi-factor authentication, all of which distract from meaningful work.

Keller shares practical examples to highlight this friction, such as outdated drills with dead batteries complicating a critical space launch—a metaphor for how dependency on tech creates fragile systems. Drawing on behavioral research, he explains how constant distractions, including email, chat, and smartphone notifications, impede deep work, leaving employees in a perpetual state of task-switching that harms cognitive performance and erodes focus.

To combat these productivity drains, Keller presents actionable steps for leaders: enforcing boundaries on notifications, restructuring meeting etiquette, and blocking time for deep work. He advocates for a “less is more” approach, reminding leaders to prioritize thoughtful tech implementation that truly aligns with organizational goals, rather than chasing every new tool. This approach, he asserts, can lead to sustainable productivity gains and a healthier, more focused work culture.