As a seasoned broadcast journalist who harkens from the “Dark Ages” of news-gathering, and as a communications guru who teaches people how to better talk to and just "at" each other, this is without peer the most vexing question imaginable.
Where it once seemed so natural and easy, it has now become either a welcome break in getting to know someone, or one of the single greatest taboos that will destroy careers and cost untold suffering among the masses.
OK, so maybe I was just a tad overblown there. But it certainly does seem as if one or the other is the end result.
Here’s the dilemma. You have an excellent product or idea that needs to be showcased to those who can use it, profit from it, and in turn pushing your venture, company and career along. After all, how is someone supposed to know you exist? Wait for social media to deem you an “influencer”? Now that could take years and cause untold wailing and gnashing of teeth.
So there you sit. Earbuds in place. Phone hooked up and ready to spin. And you are dead in your communications tracks worrying about what might happen.
You have the phone number to reach your target. You’re primed and ready to go.
Then, hesitation. Second thoughts. That gulf between teeming success and brutal failure.
Will the person on the other end be receptive? Will they take your call and give you a few minutes? If you introduce yourself in elevator mode and ask for a few minutes of their time, have you made a quick impression for that time now or in the future? Instead, have you crushed your one chance to get a foot in the door? Oh, the buckets of sweat that are now your companion.
People are busy. We get it. You may interrupt them at a crucial moment. You might catch them in the mood for something new. There is zero way of knowing what you'll get on the other end. You hope to be on the verge of breaking the ice, yet you could be on the verge of breaking your only chance to make an impression.
Write an email? Sure, as this has become for many the preferred method of first contact. But let’s be honest. We all know that for certain people, “send me an email” is the “I’ll get to it when I can and it might or very likely will be lost in the belly of my Inbox never to be seen again or responded to” finality. Emails, you see, are easily avoidable and forgettable. Despite all the various “self help” articles, there is no one way to write an engaging email as everyone has different attitudes and opinions.
Fashion the best damn email in the history of the digital world, and there’s still a chance it gets buried as if Wile E. Coyote dropped a boulder on it.
What do you do?
From my communications pulpit, I say make the call. That’s from someone who encourages people to pick up the phone and talk to me. Sure, I may be busy and I’ll ask them if I can call them back or we can set up a time to talk, but I have never out-of-hand discounted or discarded someone because they call. In their voice I can hear the person, the passion, the facial expression, and have a much better idea of whom is on that other end.
I appreciate someone taking that time, instead of just pounding out another random email or, goodness forbid, a dreaded text. For me, it makes an impression on several fronts, one of them being the “get out there and take a chance” side of things, which I admire. For me, if you believe in something, then stick your neck out. Take the gamble. But be prepared to have only a few seconds to make that impression stick.
Be upbeat. Be professional. Be a real person communicating in real time.
Of course, you need to know your subject before calling. Get an idea who they are and what’s important to them. Be prepared to have a real, live, verbal conversation, (as if we often have completely forgotten what that’s all about).
And when you're the person receiving the call, take a beat. Try to be receptive. Sure, you may wind up getting a call that may not be professional and might not fit your exact mold of conversation. But give it a chance. Smartphones now ID when a "spam" call is coming in, so there's a good chance this call might be something perfect for you and your business. Yes, I understand it's a gamble on your part. But what's the real harm in taking that shot? Are we not humans meant to effectively communicate? Have we forever descended into hiding behind emails and text messages?
Communication is just that, actively communicating with someone. Emails can take minutes or months. Text messages are for good friends and emergencies, not for making first impressions. I speak from my dinosaur perch where I encourage people to call me instead of texting, as I revel in real communication.
We are fast losing our ability to talk to and with one another. No Email or, heaven forbid, snail mail directive can take its place. We need to not only decide to take that chance when warranted, but in the other end, be receptive to someone who is seeking a real audience and might just have the idea or answer that will turn everything around into a positive break for all concerned.
That, and real voices engender personal stories, professional ideas, conversation that can take us into great arenas of success. You might even enjoy the experience, need a break from the digital nonsense.
I’m going to be interested in reading response to this, as I know there will be plenty who will insist emails are better for them. Understood. This isn’t a “one size fits all”. Rather it is a “some chances may fit the moments”, and when it comes to our personal and professional lives, one should always be willing and ready to take a chance.
It’s what makes us human, and being human means to actually talk with someone.
What a novel concept.
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