Are You Losing The Human Touch?
Tim Connor
I’ll wager that today you
will send and receive more texts and emails than you have conversations with your
– customers, employees, friends and/or loved ones! Am I right?
OK, so I’ll accept that
that’s one of the primary ways we communicate today and it’s one of the primary
advantages of technology – sharing information.
But I ask you to consider. The
good life isn’t about exclusively the exchange of information, but developing
trusting, compassionate and enduring human relationships grounded in
understanding, thoughtfulness, appreciation and being present. Yes, you can
tell me what you had for lunch on Face Book but I’d much rather hear from you
now and then – in person.
I’m not talking here about
that quick text or email from your IPad or IPhone that – “I’m on my way.” –
“Your order has been shipped.”. “The
meeting has been cancelled.” What I’m
talking about here is – well here are a few recent statistics you might find
interesting.
-The average couple spends
less than 27 minutes a week in shared intimate (not sexual) conversation and on
average over 36 hours per week individually scrolling/searching the internet.
-The average salesperson
sends out over 50 emails/texts a day and talks with fewer than 10
customers/prospects during the same time frame. I’m not including here sales
folks who are involved in tele-sales or tele-marking activities.
-The average parent spends
less than 20 minutes a week talking to each of their children one-on-one in
important child rearing conversations.
-The average manager sends
more emails to employees in a week than they have conversations with them in a
month.
Guilty of any of the above?
If so is it because you believe;
It’s easier, more
convenient or gives you a paper trail? It
takes less time, avoids confrontation or allows you to send messages 24 hours a
day? People are too busy today to talk?
People would rather use technology than have face to face or voice to
voice conversations? My personal opinion regarding these and other excuses or
rationales is – you’re wrong.
The one thing that
separates humans from all other species on Earth is the ability
and need to share fears,
desires, frustrations, feelings, hopes, worries, dreams and yes your opinions and
information. Humanity is about the
ability to create enduring one-on-one and
one-to-group relationships
based on knowing the other person’s or group’s uniqueness and those special
traits that make them human.
I am not against technology,
but the evidence is overwhelming – we are losing the human touch with those in
our lives both personal and career or business.
Don’t believe me! How many times have you gotten a “technology message”
rather than a human when you have called any organization? I know . . . that’s just the way it is today. OK, so we agree that that’s the way it is,
but I have to tell you last week it took me fifteen minutes and pushing
multiple buttons on my phone before I could reach a live person.
Frustrating? Well, yes, and then the
person I finally reached wasn’t the right person. So, back to punching numbers on my phone and
waiting and listening to their nine “telephone options” before I finally gave
up and decided to no longer purchase from that organization, but find a new supplier. Ever had this experience or am I the only one
with this frustration? I seriously doubt it!
A question – do you think
you might be losing business because of your overuse of technology? Do you think one of your relationships might
be in jeopardy because you are relying too heavily on technology? Are you losing touch/connection with others in
your life in a real and human way?
Don’t risk it. The answer – use technology as a tool and not
a crutch if you want to develop, build and maintain positive relationships with
others in your life. Disagree? Go ahead and send me an email. But only 15 people have my cell phone number
so you can’t send me a text.
By the way if you think
this issue is a problem with relationships today – stick around – it’s just
getting worse.
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