R U Conxd?

OMG, I jst hv 2 say t techlgy 2-day s s advd tht n-e id-yt cn use it, lol, 4 sure! Allright, now that THAT is off my chest!

Ever wonder how we all became so technologically saavy, and yet when it comes to connecting, person to person, we seem to miss the mark so often? Un-answered email messages, voice-mail auto deletions, “TME” (Total Mailbox Erasures) and more. It’s so funny, how we don’t talk anymore! 

There are three things you can do today, right now, to make your communication come through crystal clear in an age where more bells and whistles make it harder to hear.

1. If you can’t return phone messages within one business day, set a clear expectation on your voice mail response, exactly when someone should expect to hear back from you. It’s okay to say “You’ve reached Joe, and once I hear your message I’ll be back to you within two business days!” Setting a realistic expectation sends the message that you care enough to make a commitment. This from a guy who fled from commitment ’til his mid-30’s.

2. Respond to emails. I make it a personal practice to respond to every email I receive that’s been sent by a human. Therefore, the email from my mother asking whether a drum set is an appropriate gift for my seven year-old son (Sorry Mom) gets answered. The “spam” email from ABC Mortgage Company urging me to call them for great rates, gets deleted faster than the Detroit Lions playoff chances this past season.

3. Texting makes great sense for short-hand communication. Lunch plans? Sure, let’s confirm via text. Have a problem with my BLOG? My diction? My sartorial choice for the day? Please call or email me with the issue. Anytime a communication calls for discussion, rather than the straight-forward relay of facts, it makes sense to put the cell-phone keyboard away and talk to the other party.

Rome, it is said, wasn’t built in a day. Changing the habits of all communicators takes each of us doing our small part to make (keep!) the world a respectful place to reach out and touch someone. Have a comment on this blog? Please let me know what you think. Leave your thoughts on this Web site, email or phone me. Carrier pigeon or smoke signals, hey, I’m game!