F2F Communications - Nothing Beats It!

Mail, mail, text, write, write, message, message! When does it end? Our constituents are bombarded 24/7, and we expect to answer them immediately as if EVERYTHING is urgent! The question is, 'when does it end' ought to be, and 'what does it end in'?

The constant barrage of messages on all the various platforms can result in our winding up on the wrong side of a bright, cheerful day. All that pushiness can and often does lead to miscommunications (since there's no tone to texting, maybe a wee bit with emojis), frustration (as no one can wait even 15 seconds to get a response), and a case of Ludditeness (throw it all in and delete your social accounts).

I am guilty of sending the same message across various platforms to "make sure" the person on the receiving end gets it "their way." Some like WhatsApp, others like iMessage or IG. The logic is to cover all bases so they know they're being listened to and responded to when the bing bing goes off, alerting us to a message. Unfortunately, not all communication needs to be answered right away.

In my mind and experience, the best way to communicate is in person. If you cannot meet people face-to-face, virtual networking suffices. This is because you can empathize with someone's expression and hear their voice and facial reactions.

I sit on the board of a few organizations, one of them is www.consciouscapitalism.com . Last week, I attended our quarterly get-together, open to the public. I had meaningful conversations with over ten people, which, by any standard, is quite a lot. It was meaningful because we learned about one another (and not just what we do - boring!), what attracted us to this group, our reasons for attending the event, and how we could serve one another in the future. We spoke face-to-face and laughed together; some even gave hugs (a typical Austin greeting once a person warms up to you). You can't feel a hug online, even if someone sends you a two-handed heart symbol with a smile.

Do you avoid meeting people in person and prefer online communications? If you resonate with this statement, there are numerous reasons why this could be. I've included a short list below, but please know this before I launch into it: Nothing and no one is a barrier to communication except yourself. That means your mind reflects your thinking patterns, prejudices, biases, and beliefs. If you are determined to break your mold, a new world will open up to you, bringing fresh concepts, different people, and better communications.

OK, here's the shortlist.

1. Shyness
2. Attachment to a narrowly defined subjective reality
3. A feeling of lack of confidence, worthiness, or self-esteem
4. Little to no experience networking or speaking in a crowd
5. Perceived disabilities
6. Language barriers and fears associated with one's accent
7. Fear

The last one is the largest roadblock to effective in-person communications. This is especially true if you grew up in a household where your voice was suppressed and you learned to 'hold your tongue.' In the cluttered and often annoying universe of too much social media vying for everyone's attention, now more than ever, your voice is needed.

To create warm and lasting human relationships, ditch the constant need to text, message, and respond with emojis instead of sentences, at least for part of your day. Try meeting your colleagues for a coffee or tea break, mingling at a networking event, and reaching out to someone you'd like to get to know. If someone piques your interest and lives thousands of miles away or overseas, setting up a Zoom or FT call makes sense. It's one step closer to real engagement.

Because nothing beats F2F communications.

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