The iPod and the Downfall of Communication

Question: I attended a workshop where email communication was discussed. I was very surprised how many people used email to “cover their tracks.” The rub with many audience members came when the facilitator said rather than engage in back and forth email discussion that has some emotion to it at work you are better served to pick up the phone and have an actual discussion with the other person. I was surprised how many people felt the need to “cover their tracks.” What do you think?

This is just one symptom of what is wrong with Corporate America. We are so afraid to have conversations not because we would have to justify it, but because we don't know how. The workshop facilitator probably never discussed how people don't even pick up their phones anymore when they ring. Everyone's screening by voice mail - so good luck having a phone conversation.

We've become a big society of self-centered "Me-Me-Me" and no one is allowed to interrupt our space, our flow or question what we're doing.

The thinking has become, "If I pick up the phone, it might be more work to do. If they don't leave a message it wasn't important." Then at the end of the day they drive home and right into the garage, close the doors to never be seen until next morning.

Of course it would be better to have a conversation but it's hard to do with business colleagues when we won't even talk to our next door neighbors. It's not a cover-your-tracks thinking, that's just an excuse. People are afraid to engage face-to-face. They've gotten lazy with social skills and are afraid that a conversation might bring up a topic that they don't know anything about and be embarrassed. They want to have conversations on their terms at their time. It’s a control issue.

ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT: We've checked out of living with others. But the successful CEO's of tomorrow are going to be the one's who know how to look people in the eye, shake everyone’s hand, wear a real genuine smile, make some small talk and will refuse to be cut off from the rest of the world.

So if you want a shot at becoming CEO in your lifetime, get those iPod ear buds out of your head. Otherwise, don't whine when you get passed over for promotion. Oh, right. You'll miss it anyway because you don't answer your phone. You're right. It's not important.

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