How do you express yourself? Recently, I was asked what my boss would say about me. Since I just asked for a recommendation letter, I had a quick answer. Then I started thinking, if it could be reduced to one word. Do you remember the famous line from Wall Street, when Gordon Gecko refers to greed? Doesn’t that one word describe the whole movie?
Twitter only allows 140 characters! We are required to be brief. Texting and instant messaging also requires us to be brief. Isn’t it harder to express ourselves in just a few words? Emails in business should be short and to the point. Most of us read way too much extraneous information. I took a reading class one summer in high school to help me increase my reading speed and comprehension. By the end of the course, I could read 2,000 words per minute with 80-90% comprehension.
Although I can and do read a great deal every day, I would rather read less. Do schools prepare us to write less? My teachers and professors always assigned papers with a minimum number of words or pages. Do you remember your professor or teacher asking you to write a 500 word theme or a 10-15 page paper? I know I do! A short essay can be two pages. The typical structure of introduction, main body and a conclusion requires nearly two pages anyway.
Learning to write clearly, succinctly and directly is rarely taught in school! This will be a very important skill in the world of Facebook, Twitter, emails, and instant messaging! Since everything is going mobile, it will be very important to communicate in just a few words. One of my previous articles “Can You Tell A Story or a Joke” shows how communication is important. Describing it succinctly is even more important! better start practicing because we are here! Just a few years ago, we sat in front of 19 inch monitors to read emails, do research and write our responses. Today we use 15 inch laptops, notebooks and now tablets instead.
More recently, smart phones and tablets are replacing desktop computers for many people. We are a mobile society, no longer reading newspapers or watching standard TV. We now have a steady diet of downloading movies, music, television programs, videos, online casino games, books, magazines and news on our mobile devices. Why don’t we have time to watch, read, enjoy or relax with this media at home? Guess what, we do it everywhere!
We are in the information age! We can access so much more information than previous generations, but do we have the time? What is the conclusion? We cram everything into less and less time. We now keep up our friendships, meet people, socialize, find our mates, shop, find jobs, and do almost everything electronically! I know this may be trendy and even easier than before, but is it too much?
When I ride my bicycle, I see people on their phone. In the car, store, bathroom and elevator, I am inundated with other people’s conversations and telephone calls. Do you really have so much to say? I see people texting, in the car, walking, in the classroom, restaurants and probably everywhere else. If you could write less and communicate better, would you have time to do something else or just do more of the same?
Is this just a rant? Am I longing for the good old days when communication meant a simple phone call or a written note? No, not at all, but maybe we could be more effective or efficient! Learn to say less, but say it effectively. Take the time for a conversation, you know the face to face kind or read a print book. Don’t cram so much in a 24 hour day! Have some down time and smell the roses before time slips by. At least learn to express yourself in fewer words. How do you express yourself?
I still write letters. I love getting a real letter in the mail.
I really dislike talking on the phone, home or cell. I guess I am a little old fashioned when it comes to communication. I don’t like texting either. I’m only 29 too. Could be because I was raised, in large part, by my grandparents.
There is nothing wrong with being old fashioned! Communication skills were relevant then too. I am encouraging effective communication.versus just filling the page.
I also dislike the phone and texting. email or face to face… that’s what I prefer.
When I was in the business world, I always preferred face to face, then phone calls and last email or written communication. I feel the same way in my personal life too.
There is nothing wrong with being old fashioned! Communication skills were relevant then too. I am encouraging effective communication.versus just filling the page.
It *is* a rant, but a great one!
I disconnected myself from FB sometime back; best decision ever! Prefer one real friend to 1000 virtual ones.
I just thought I was “expressing” myself! Technology or social media should just supplement real relationships.
Do speed-reading classes work? I have been thinking of using a software to learn speed-reading as I am quite slow and struggle to keep up with all my readings.
You can increase your reading speed and comprehension, however it does vary depending on the kind of reading you are doing. I can read a newspaper or novel at 2,000 words per minute.
I’m regressing more and more towards face to face communication. More phone calls, less emails.
If you remember businesses were cutting back travel during the height of the recession and using video conferencing, skype, emails, and phone calls etc. Realistically, they cannot cut out all travel because there a benefit to face to face communication for business. It is also true for maintaining networks, friendships and socialization.
I think video conferencing is over-hyped. Half the time we can’t get it to work right.
Technology is can improve everyday operations when it is easy to use. Technological innovations still need a lot of support. Until it is more common, and easier to use, it won’t be used. Effective communication does not depend on the form of communication.
“do you really have that much to say?” Right!! Love this line. I’m stealing it. This is why we tweet our breakfast and what we saw on the side of the road. We really don’t have that much to say.
Perhaps the better question is, Why is anyone interested? I am looking for 10,000 people who are interested in what is going on in my head 24/7! I am willing to share, so start signing up. .
I’m trying to keep a better balance between email and in person or phone communication. Typing things out takes a lot of time even for a fast typer, and making a quick phone call is so much more efficient when you can reach someone. I’ve found things get really confusing over email sometimes, esp. in the workplace so I try to discuss work related items over the phone. Email is great for documentation though so I try to keep my inbox and subfolders as organized as possible. -Sydney
I’d have to say that all those people talking on the phone and texting constantly (even while crossing the street!) really aren’t saying anything important. Now everyone can share their everyday mundane activities, such as “going to the grocery store” or “eating delicious yogurt” etc. with everyone else. We’ve become a society of blabber mouths. 😉
Instant communication was never meant to share such mundane experiences. I thought it was just a better use of technology to speed communication. Was it one of those unintended consequences of technology?
Effective communication takes a lot more effort! For example, I write very effective business letters. How do I know? I always get what I requested! Emails can be harder because you are describing an issue, problem or solution. Effective communication is speaking and writing.
Awesome rant KC! All this social media is too much sometimes. I was in the bathroom and some guy was talking while using the urinal. I’m thinking, most people are insecure. Talking, tweeting, texting, it makes them feel important. I say communication is going down hill. No one verbally talks anymore. We would rather email or text and if we do run into someone, they have their earbuds on!
Initially, I was advocating effective communication, however technology should only supplement communication. Less texting, tweeting and cell phone use would be welcome particularly in public such as driving, crossing streets and walking.