What Efficiency Costs
Efficiency has come up quite a bit for me recently.
Don’t we all love being efficient and appreciate it in others– knocking out tasks, checking off items on a to do list, appreciating people not wasting our time. How often do we ask about meetings, “couldn’t this have been an email?”
But I keep wondering if this drive for efficiency gets in the way of inclusion, community building and relationships.
I recently went to a family event to celebrate a 50th wedding anniversary. A couple guests, members of the wedding party, were late. What to do? The hosts had to battle between staying on schedule, food getting cold, venue concerns and waiting to be sure all were included. What would you do?
We once gathered with friends to make soup. The whole reason was to be together. One man diligently chopped carrots so evenly and beautifully, but also sooooooo slowly. What was my instinct? To take over and get it done – I had to remind myself – we had all day, the whole reason was to spend time together, not just to make a meal.
How often are people with disabilities rushed out of a role they could play or made to feel unwelcomed thanks to people feeling the pressure to be efficient? Is that the intention of the community members who do this or just a lack of awareness?
How can we fight against this, personally – within ourselves? How, when do we explain it to others so they can appreciate a new perspective?
