Lessons Learned from a Dying Hard Drive: There’s a Better Way to Communicate

Hi. My name is Amelia and I am addicted to e-mail. Unlike my colleagues, who guzzle coffee or Coke to get started on their day, I can’t get going without checking my e-mail. In fact, it’s hard for me to get through any part of the day without e-mail.

If you told me I could live without e-mail – I would have said “never!  I would have said “why would I want to? “

Or maybe I wouldn’t. In fact, two weeks ago, my personal laptop started acting up – blue-screen-of-death and all that. And it died. And I’m without e-mail.

I thought I’d go crazy, but I haven’t. Oddly, the conversations I have while in e-mail limbo are more engaging and surprisingly – much more effective – than those I have in e-mail. Decisions get made and plans get set in one call, not 4 e-mails. No one’s waiting for the reply.

Don’t get me wrong. I’ll still be booting up first thing in the morning and shutting down only when the in-box is empty. But in between, when getting the answer quickly matters, I’ll pick up the phone and try the power of the spoken word.  If the past two weeks are any indication, I’m betting there’ll be much less in my in-box because I’ll get what I need the first time. Wow, a lesson in effective communication and productivity all from a dead computer – I knew I loved technology! 

  - By Amelia DeCesare

 

Comments

[Erin Smith]

I loved this post. Nothing beats a live conversation - much more efficient.

[Todd Lynch]

Terrific post! You can't read tone in e-mails. You do not develop meaningful business relationships through electronic messaging. It is harder to debate to a better truth or solution without actual conversation. Both have their place, but one does not replace the other.

[Amelia DeCesare]

Thanks for the feedback!

I have a new laptop, thankfully - but I'm still picking up the phone when the emails start flying back and forth too frequently.

How high do each of you usually let the email chain get before you pick up the phone?