What happened to real communication? Does it still exist?
Face to face or phone communication seems to literally be going down the crapper. Yes, I used the word crappy and crapper in the same post. 🙂
Let me explain why I think this is happening.
Recently I had a meeting with a guy in Branson to discuss doing some writing for his website. He was a very laid back kinda guy, which I like. I felt comfortable in the interview. He showed up in shorts and a t-shirt with his Starbucks coffee in hand. After we talked for a while he let me know I would hear from him one way or another. I went on with my week.
A few days later my phone dinged letting me know I had a text message. I took the hands out of the dish water, dried them, and picked up my phone. The message read, “We chose someone else. Thanks for applying. If we need you in the future we’ll let you know.”
Seriously?
I got turned down in a text message! At first I was aggravated that I didn’t get the gig, but then I sat down and thought about it for a minute. Would I want to work for someone who doesn’t even pick up the phone to let me know I didn’t get the job? No. I realized that I don’t want to be under the leadership of someone who doesn’t communicate well.
There are just some things you do face to face or over the phone. For instance, unless you’re 13 and still learning about boys, you don’t break up with someone via text message. You don’t inform someone of a death in a message. You don’t tell someone they didn’t get the job in a text message. That’s my two cents anyway.
As a leader I want those under me to expect more from me. I want them to expect that I will treat them with the utmost respect. And I would expect the same from them hopefully.
What do you think? Have you received news you wish would have been done in a more personal manner?
Living In The Days Of Crappy Communication