With the influx of new technology
aimed at making the corporate world more accessible to citizens everywhere all
the time, we seem to spend a lot of time trying to “stay connected”. These days
everyone’s got a blackberry, iphone, or another variety of smart phone that
“connects” them to everyone else. But just how well do we know the people that
we email, tweet, text, or add on Facebook?
In the corporate world we use
social networking tools and social media to grow our networks and promote our
businesses. Most professionals prefer to connect on LinkedIn but just how many
of the contacts on LinkedIn have they actually met? Do they even know 50% of
the people on their friend or contact list?
It’s much easier to email a
colleague about a report that’s due or finalize plans with friends over
whatsapp than it is to actually pick up the phone and call them. In person
interaction seems to be at an all time low as new developments in technology
are slowly making in person meetings a thing of the past, with most progressive
companies using group chats, conference calls, and Skype. All this technology
may not be a good thing for our own social nuances as we don’t see people face
to face or interact with them in person, leaving us without the need for
expressing emotions and exchanging niceties. Sure we can write someone a nice a
message or email but wouldn’t it be much more effective in person? Or even a
hand-written note as opposed to a typed text?
“Staying connected” can also
remove us from the real world! We’ve all seen it before, the busy executive
always checking his blackberry with not a moment to spare for lunch or even to
say hello to staff walking by his office. Even when he does meet with friends
or colleagues in person he has very little to say because he’s always so
absorbed in his blackberry and hardly makes eye contact. He may think he’s
staying afloat of what’s going on in the world but he’s missing first hand
interaction. His dependence and devotion to his blackberry makes him come
across as being self-absorbed; too busy to care about what others have to say
and just downright rude. Although he thinks he’s staying connected he may very
well be ostracized from social groups for his reclusive behavior.
Connections can be made online
but are strengthened in person, through human interaction. After all isn’t
that the point of networking events? Even though smart phones and laptops are
invaluable assets to self-promotion and growing a business they do not trump
one-on-one human interaction. The reality is we need to be able to see and
speak to someone in person in order to trust them and buy their product.
Copyright © 2012 by Professional Edge Consulting
Copyright © 2012 by Professional Edge Consulting
