In today’s world of innovative technology, and the use of different types of communication, I for one, still value and prefer the good old-fashioned method of talking to people face-to-face. While I understand and appreciate the speed and efficiency of using email, texting, Twitter, and Facebook, I still prefer speaking to people directly. You get […]
In today’s world of innovative technology, and the use of different types of communication, I for one, still value and prefer the good old-fashioned method of talking to people face-to-face.
While I understand and appreciate the speed and efficiency of using email, texting, Twitter, and Facebook, I still prefer speaking to people directly. You get to see their reaction to what you are saying as well as their body language, which I believe gives important feedback. Who among us hasn’t stared at an email or text and wondered what the intent of the message was?
Maybe it was my father’s influence on me when I was young that made me comfortable with direct conversation. He was a salesman, and in the summer, I would travel with him while he made sales-call visits to local, independent hardware stores. Often, I would be asked questions by the owners, and naturally I was encouraged to answer them. After graduating from college, I started working at a bank and my first job was talking to customers and prospects about a new product the bank was marketing. That new product was a debit card. I made a banking career out of calling on customers and speaking to them. Am I biased? The answer is yes, but for good reasons. One cannot deny the benefits of communicating directly with someone. In my opinion, these benefits include:
- The ability to gauge the other person’s body language
- Gain instant feedback from the person(s) you are speaking with
- Clarify any points that need further discussion
- Deliver your message with passion and emotion (not the same as using an emoji)
- Learn more about the person if the conversation digresses
- Enjoy someone’s company
- Take a break from the technology that clutters our lives
I certainly could not live without my smart phone, nor am I suggesting anyone should. I am, however, strongly encouraging that no one should rely solely on technology to communicate with someone. Technology certainly has its place and we are better off having it as another “tool” to use, in addition to using our voice. Just by getting to know someone, saying hello, or discussing the weather, things can lead to more meaningful conversations.
Here is a real example of how communicating recently benefitted me and the person with whom I spoke.
I went online to research a specific type of lawnmower. I could buy it at one of the big national retail chain stores in town, or go to a smaller independent store that is an authorized dealer. I decided to visit the local dealer and had a great conversation with an employee about the mower. Having experience servicing the mower, I knew he was explaining more about the features and benefits of this model than I would have received from online reviews. I was convinced right then to buy it from the dealer, rather than go to the larger retailer. The local dealer also discounted the price to make it less expensive than the competitor. I really appreciated that.
Was that a coincidence, or just a good outcome of actually taking the time to have a conversation with someone? I’d like to think it’s the latter. I will always recommend that people take the time to look up from their mobile device, and have a nice chat with another person. You never know what you may find out.
Michael Cartini is a business advisor at the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Onondaga Community College. Contact him at (315) 470-1973 or email: m.j.cartini@sunyocc.edu