When did responding to a person’s inquiries become a crime?

Management Tips

When did responding to a person’s inquiries become a crime?

By Ralph Dopping ⋅ November 20, 2012 ⋅ Post a comment

Filed Under communication, community, connected, humour, personal interaction, relationships, share, social media

Please stop stealing time from your colleagues and friends.

That’s what it is if you never return an email, text or phone call. When someone does that to me it pisses me off.

Royally.

You work hard and get nothing in return. In a business setting it’s not as if you go out of your way just for fun, right? You actually have a reason to reach out otherwise you wouldn’t.

Actually, it doesn’t matter if it’s business or personal.

Does it?

I read somewhere that email is now considered old school. I am a 47 year old guy. To some I am still young but to many people I come across I am already old. It scares me at times because I am afraid my traits as a Gen X personality may get in the way of my technological flexibly and my attitude toward acknowledgment.

I still think it’s important to acknowledge someone directly when engaged.

Hey, these days’ people talk a lot about littering data steams with useless information. Filling the echo chamber with needless chatter is the resounding call of the internet kings of the day. For example there was some debate (80+ comments is a good indicator) recently about whether or not it’s a waste of time to thank people on Twitter for an RT (retweet) because all we would be doing is littering our streams with seemingly useless data.

Ridiculous.

If you receive an acknowledgement then say thank you. What the heck is wrong with that? Littering a data stream?

Really?

Are sound waves and email treated as the same thing?

It’s a ludicrous argument to think that someone is too busy to acknowledge you when they get addressed personally. Look, I am not talking about being spammed here. I am simply saying that if someone spends their valuable hard earned time to send you an email, calls you, tweets you or drops you a message on Facebook how difficult is it to return the favour?

Sure, there is still a discernable difference between being social and conducting business but we know the lines are blurred these days so it doesn’t much matter anymore which it is. If you are in business you are going to have to be social and if you are going to be social then you are going to have to respond.

In a timely manner.

No matter who you think you are.

Plain and simple.

And don’t try to tell me that you can’t do it because there is too much going on. That’s “you know what” and a perfect example of No. 10 on my TRY SAYING THIS INSTEAD list.

How do you feel when you are acknowledged?

Pretty damn good I bet.

So, if you can’t find the time in the day to respond with some meaning at least drop a quick email or text or tweet or whatever with a “I will get back to you.” And for heaven sake say thank you when you get acknowledged in the social spaces.

It will make you feel better too.

Do I do that?

You bet your bacon I do.

I am not superman either.

I am just a man standing in front of his social media world asking it to love him.

Over to you:

How do you deal with the huge influx of messaging, calls and emails on a daily basis? How do you ensure the people who take the time to share your message with their world know that you care about them too?

About this Author: Ralph Dopping (166 Posts)

A quirky sense-o-humour coupled with an indelible sense of stylish sarcasm makes it difficult to take the world too seriously doesn't it? My faves: fun, passion and hard work. I work here everyday: www.designdialog.ca