Warning: Some of you are not going to like this.

Things I say that get me in trouble – good trouble, but trouble none the less.

I am very privileged that my work enables me to speak from stage and my fascination (obsession) with current human communication is ripe for telling the truth that audiences are often, too afraid to hear.

The fact that I use Modern Zombies as a metaphor of how we are changing due to our incredible communication technology sets the scene for trouble – who wants to think of themselves as a zombie, after all?

My audience is a corporate one. All of us are drowning in overwhelming volumes of technical transactions. We have allowed these to replace what used to be value-filled human interactions. The tech solution is easier, the human, more difficult. The human option is more powerful and meaningful, but, these days, definitely harder.

Most of the organisations I work with are still in the business of people and relationships and these, thankfully, still crave human interaction. This is something that far too many of us have forgotten.

So let me share a few of the things that are true but you may not want to hear. If nothing else, these should get the conversations flowing…

Our kids don’t read books anymore.

 This is a great start. There is usually a few audience members who take offence at this point and they are at pains to let those around them know that their kids still read.

And this is true, some kids still read books, most don’t. Some kids read online posts, Reddit feeds, social media streams and commentary but only a tiny proportion read books.

This is not because books are outdated or in short supply its because kids no longer have the concentration spans available to lose themselves in pages of written text, character arcs, plot development and long form story-telling. This has all been replaced by instant gratification in the form of YouTube and Netflix box-sets.

Parents do not want to hear this, but they know it is true. There is huge value in the application, concentration and focus required to lose yourself in an amazing book – it is incredibly sad that these skills are rapidly disappearing.

Our technology stole the meaning of our language and we let it happen.

 This one gets the juices flowing. Our beloved technology hijacked the meaning of our words and now we use their definitions and not our own.

Our devices and the companies that have filled them with distraction (the same devices we thrust into our kid’s hands when they head off to senior school) have reinterpreted how our language is used and what our words mean, and we have been hoodwinked into thinking this is ok.

Let me show you what I mean:

The word ‘like’ no longer means ‘like’

The word ‘friend’ no longer means ‘friend’

The word ‘social’ no longer means ‘social’

We think we still have a handle on how our language is manipulated but we are no longer in control.

I understand that language evolves over time and new words enter the dictionary and common usage and this development is as it should be. However, these words have not evolved, they have been stolen.

We can’t remember phone numbers anymore

 I like this one because it is clearly the case and, on the surface, doesn’t appear to be a problem.

We don’t have to remember phone numbers anymore. Haven’t had to for quite some time. Our devices of old used to store our numbers and now most of the details we have for our friends and colleagues are logged into our mobile fruit-machines.

The only problem comes if you lose your phone and need to ring for help from one of your many contacts. If you’re lucky, you’ll remember one phone number - your Mum’s old number.  Let’s hope she hasn’t moved as that number was from when you were growing up in the early 1970’s!

Phone numbers – not really a problem.

What happens if we stop having to use other (taken for granted) skills? Here lies the real issue. Like a muscle that you don’t use, we run the risk of atrophy in a host of other areas that are far more essential that our ability to remember strings of digits.

How long before we lose the ability to hold a measured, sensible, face to face conversation? There are some who believe certain generations are already losing (or have never had) this skill.

How long before we lose the value of romance, dating, emotion, body language, empathy, rapport and our hunger for real-life adventures?

You can imagine that some people don’t want to hear this, but everyone recognises that we must. 

My message is not ‘anti-technology’ it is pro ‘utility’ and the ‘enabling’ of enhanced human interactions rather than using our incredible tech to turn everything into a soulless transaction.

These simple observations are the start of a courageous debate, one which I am more than happy to begin but the answers, choices and future decisions are for all of us to make.

Nick Looby is a Communication Specialist and Modern Zombie Slayer.

Feel free to get in touch and have a conversation about corporate training, consultancy, or, if you are really brave, speaking opportunities.

Many thanks for taking the time to read my observations – bring on more trouble.