We are very blessed to live in a world of conveniences don’t get me wrong. With more friends and families living demographically further apart, social media is a great way to stay connected by sharing photos and messages. For businesses, the ability to instant message one another helps to stay connected on large projects and improve customer service with instant feedback as well. And businesses, including mine, that were once limited demographically, are now able to network and grown internationally because of technology. But with generations growing up in only this world, are we in danger of the ART of Communication being lost?
Well, I won’t dedicate this story to the fact that during a recent completion of some volunteer time in my son’s classroom, his teacher informed me that they were going to stop making children read out loud in class anymore. All because she mentioned “sometimes, it is just painful to listen to.” That made me scratch my head a few times…and this point alone ensures job security in my field. But considering public speaking continues to be feared more than death itself, I don’t think stopping children from having to read out loud in class will help much. In fact, I am more concerned about the effects that may have on our national and global economy down the road.
However, even with those that were forced to read out loud in their classrooms growing up; by utilizing the convenience of technology too much, I often hear concerns from corporations that their employees and workforce in general has dwindled with their communication skills. Although at, TITANIUM Business Development, Inc., we have an entire workshop dedicated to this topic because of that, what else is technology hindering vs. helping?
As a whole, I think ALL of us, myself included, need to remember that technology is simply a tool. A tool to HELP build upon relationships NOT completely manage them for us or expect them to create new ones out of nothing. The personal touch is the most powerful. Not the instant message, in box message, or even text message. Utilize technology to schedule things or to remind you if needed, but not to live your life for you. Did you know that for the first time in history, technology has even been blamed for the breakups of families? It is disappointing to hear couples have cited Facebook and other online conveniences as the cause of their divorce.
The fact is, that the pendulum swung at the onset of technology and consumers jumped on the conveniences it offered. In fact, at first many businesses cited online shopping as a cause to decreased profits and they had to make adjustments to stay competitive. But with the rising amount of identity theft, fraud, and security breaches, people are starting to swing back. The Art of Relationships and the desire for them is strong and the Art of Communication needs to swing back as well to jump back on the bandwagon to build those relationships back up again.
People don’t do business with businesses, computers, or even smart phones. They do business with people. And they don’t just do business with people anymore, they want to do business with the people they like, trust, and can hold accountable. They want to do business with people they could call a friend. And friendships are not made or promoted by just “liking” or “sharing” a photo. They are made by supporting each other through triumphs and tribulations. They are made by personal touch and genuine sincerity. They grow from communication; both electronic and live.
So next time you want to reach out to a client, friend, or family member; a text or email is fine but a phone call or personal notecard is even better!
Focus on your Art of Communication to build on your Art of Relationships!
