The Pajama Effect

Increasingly available new technologies and ways to connect have caused radical changes in the ways humans communicate, blurring the lines between different aspects of life. The Pajama Effect is the result of these changes. It describes a psychological and behavioral shift human beings experience when working in a physically detached and virtually connected world. This change puts them out of their element and vulnerable to a new environment, isolation and other challenges. The economics of the 21st century has inspired companies and organizations to embrace the virtual environment to both increase productivity and lower costs. Digital technologies have given us increased speed, connectivity and independence. These advances offer us a more flexible and mobile way to work and live, yet the impact of these technologies on human beings is only beginning to be understood. The digital age came upon all of us with excessive speed. The rate of change and adaption is unlike anything we have ever seen, and that rate of change is increasing. The 9-to-5 day no longer applies in a 24/7/365 world. It is difficult to know when work stops and play starts, or when to call it a day and say, “Enough is enough.” People work from home, cars, hotels, and just about anywhere in increasing numbers. The tools that connect us, and how we use them, are limited only by our imaginations. This ability to connect from anywhere with anyone is now part of our social fabric. This affects every facet of our lives. Thanks to these technologies, the norms governing how we interact with coworkers, friends, family and society are also changing. The Pajama Effect has altered the expectations and approaches that came with us from the industrial age. There are conscious and unconscious elements at play in the virtual world. It is quite possible for virtual workers to be more productive, more relaxed and more in control of their lives but it is also possible for the exact opposite to occur. It all depends on how each individual thinks and behaves – on the ability to respond and not just react. Distractions abound in the virtual environment, from advertisements, websites, social media and video everywhere to family obligations and love. The virtual environment can pull you off task and out of your element. To be successful working and leading in this new environment, you need to possess certain abilities.The Pajama Effect has an impact not only on you, but it will influence the culture for generations to come. The future will be filled with remarkable challenges. We are in a unique position, leading the way forward on the technological frontier. It is our responsibility to teach the new generation skills it will need to be successful in the future.The good news is those challenges can be met not just by where we work, but how we work.The virtual workplace has characteristics very different than most traditional office environments. The digital office is characterized by openness, vulnerability, personal privacy, informality and detachment. As a result, we have increased flexibility, less external direction and a different kind of stress. There are things we can do to balance personal and professional responsibilities. This balance is essential for success. New technologies will continue to unfold. Holograms, artificial intelligence, virtual reality and faster, more integrated gadgets are sure to play a role in future forms of communication. These, too, will cause us to re-evaluate our psychological states and behaviors. The Pajama Effect will continue to be part of how we blend our private and professional lives for a long time to come. We will always have to find new ways of coping with unavoidable changes. The environments that we consider normal now will soon be outdated and replaced. Once again, we will be out of our element and dealing with a new environment where the boundaries and constraints no longer apply.

Bobbe Baggio is currently Associate Provost of the School of Adult and Graduate Education (SAGE) at Cedar Crest College in Allentown, PA. Her area of expertise is the integration of technologies to enhance human performance including adult and workplace learning. She was the Associate Dean of Graduate Programs and Online Learning at American University in Washington, D.C. and was previously Program Director of the MS program in Instructional Technology Management at La Salle University in Philadelphia, PA. Since 2002, she has been CEO of Advantage Learning Technologies, Inc. a company that provides programs, products and research for workplace learning. She believes that technologies are here to help everyone and to enhance human performance. Bobbe is the author of five books, an engaging public speaker, strategic advisor and educator in the field of instructional technologies and learning. She is a consultant in learning and talent development for a global and virtually connected workforce. Her expertise draws upon her experience as a Fortune 100 IT manager, 20 years of consulting experience, and her doctoral studies in instructional design for online learning. Examples of clients include The Federal Reserve Bank, Pfizer, Novartis, Johnson & Johnson, University of Pennsylvania, DOD, PASSHE, Merck, BMS, KPMG, Siemens, Ticketmaster, IMG, Tyco Engineering, Fisher, Christiana Care Health System, Cisco and Adobe.