Don't Let Embarrassment Stop You

Why It's Natural

Unfortunately, many of my clients tell me that they feel embarrassed about not knowing what to do when it comes to their technology.  I get why.  A lot of tech is designed by people in their 20s for other people in their 20s. Something goes wrong, and you don't know what to do to fix it.  The 8-year-old granddaughter knows how to fix it, and you start to think, "Why shouldn't I know what to do, too?"  

Embarrassment is perfectly natural when you feel out of our element.  Computers, smartphones, and wifi surround us and are integral to our daily lives these days.  There's an app to check the weather, an app to give you directions, an app to buy things, and more.  You feel that you should be in command of what you need to go about your day.  When things go wrong and you don't know how to fix them, you feel incompetent.  

---

But It's Okay

I want to emphasize here that, while it's normal to feel abashed, you should cut yourself some slack.  

• ​First of all, everyone else is going through their own incompetence with technology–even the techie people.  Not everything works all the time for me either.  In fact, just last week, I accidentally pushed a wrong button and ended the family zoom call on everyone.  I felt, well..., I felt embarrassed.

• Second, just because so many people use technology every day, it doesn't mean that you should be expected to know how to troubleshoot it when something goes wrong.  A lot of people drive cars, too, but how many know how to repair them?  Most have to take their car to a mechanic to get serviced.
​
• Third, you are an expert in your own field–law, medicine, music, art, administration, etc.  You've spent a good chunk of your life honing your skills and can run circles around people who aren't in your field.  How would you know how to so something like erasing your hard drive or setting up your router unless you were trained?  

​Kids seem to know so much more than adults about tech because they've grown up with it and are constantly talking about and sharing tricks with their friends.  Solving tech problems is just intuitive to them.

Adverse Effects of Feeling Embarrassed

Many of my clients tell me that, when their technological issues make them embarrassed, they get flustered.  Then they can't think straight, and they panic.  Sometimes they dig themselves deeper into a hole, and other times they just shut down (their devices and themselves).  When these feelings get to be too much, people become afraid to ask for help.  

I Get it, and I'm Here For You

I understand what you're going through because I see it all the time.  I can tell you from experience that a surprising number of people have the same tech issues and feelings.  So, instead of ignoring your questions, ask me about them.  I'll help you solve the problem.  I'll also teach you about what causes the issue and how to get out of the jam next time.  My goal is for you to feel comfortable around your technology, get it to do what you need it to do, and maybe even have fun while doing it.