Reputation death, Part 6: Got technophobia? Get over it.

When early humans discovered fire, some may have reacted with horror. Why did it produce such tear-inducing smoke? Why did it hurt to touch it? But even our most change-resistant ancestors eventually accepted the benefits of having heat, light and warm food.

Fast forward to modern times, and human beings are still resisting change. This is especially true in our industry, where advisors have sometimes been slow to embrace the personal computer, the World Wide Web, Web 2.0, mobile devices, among other developments.

Are they just lazy? Perhaps. But some may have a more serious problem—”technophobia.” This is defined as an abnormally strong fear or dislike of advanced technology or complex devices.

We’ve all seen technophobic advisors. They need their assistants to run Microsoft Office. They don’t use a smart phone. They are slow to adopt the latest communications methods (content-rich websites, blogs, social networks). And perhaps most importantly, they resist paperless workflow. In short, technophobic advisors are betting their careers on the past—and blinding themselves to both today’s victories and tomorrow’s opportunities.

What it says about you

Advisors who resist technology have their reasons. But they’re not considering the impact on their reputations. Think about it. What does using old technology say about you to your prospects? That you’re behind the times? Afraid to learn new things? This is hardly the way to attract people to your fire.