Texting: Changing the Face of Communication

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Texting: Changing the Face of Communication

Written by Gregg Gregory

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How To Get Face To Face Over The Phone

When you are sitting with a prospect it's much easier to read their body language. You can see the look on their face when they're confused about something you said. You can see the delight when you hit a hot button for them. You can read the shifts in their body as they respond to your every word. Non verbal communication is missing when you sell by phone.

How many text messages have you sent in the last 30 days? Depending on your age this number could range anywhere from zero to over a couple of hundred. And if you are at one end of this spectrum, you do not understand how anyone could be at the other end. Well, they are and sending text messages is the latest in how communication is done – not just in the classroom, but in the board room as well.

Changing the Face of Communication
A little more than a decade ago most men in their mid to late 50's made comments about the computer and typing. They said things like – "I don't need to learn how to type" or, "The computer is for the administrative staff." I was in the hotel business center early one morning when a man using the computer next to me said, "There is no 'E' on this keyboard. There are two 'Ls' but no 'Es'." I was confused and looked over at the computer he was working on and the bottom two horizontal marks had worn off the 'E' key making it look like an 'L'. I was completely amazed he did not know the basic layout of the keyboard. He even doubted me that that was the 'E' key until he typed it. This gave me a little chuckle through the day – the next morning another man said the exact same thing.

Now don't get me wrong we have come a long way over the last few decades, and I am very grateful that my father made me take a typing course in college back in 1978. We have had to adapt over the years. About 8 or 9 years ago I read that the average 10 year old had as much computer time as the average 50 year old. Today that number is of course shrinking; but what about sending text messages? Do you see a common trend here?

Don't get me wrong I am not advocating text, text, text – not at all - and, in fact, in many cases those who are texting everything are missing out on some of the very basics in communication skills. Yet I also feel that with the job market changing as it is we all need to be aware of the multitudes of ways to communicate and how each person may be different in what he/she prefers.

The Generation Gap in Communication
Take a survey around your office. Break your co-workers into five basic groups:

The Mature Generation, born before 1946.
Baby Boomers, born between 1946 and 1964.
Generation X, born between 1964 and 1980.
Generation Y, born between 1981 and 1990.
Generation M, born after 1990/

Then ask how many sent over 25 text messages in the last 30 days. Now ask yourself what generation is your organization hiring today? What about over the next five years?

Technology is changing the face of communication in the workplace. In a survey by Pew Internet & American Life, 50% of seniors over the age of 65 own a cell phone compared with nearly 90% of those between 18-29 years old. Many seniors are taking sessions offered at local malls on how to better use their cell phone and the number one topic of learning is "how to text."

In as much as the mature generation and boomers need to learn text messaging generations Y & M need to learn how to use the phone more effectively and not be skittish about communicating with senior management face to face.

Our workforce is currently employing four very distinct generations and will continue to do so over the coming years. This will continue to cause challenges in the communications arena for years to come. What are you doing to increase the communication quality in your organization?

Gregg Gregory
		About the author:
		Gregg Gregory helps organizations design cooperative teams that produce results and perform at peak levels. Through his interactive workshops and consulting, Gregg’s clients achieve greater team focus, cooperation, productivity, and impact. His experience includes more than two decades of human resources, real estate, mortgage banking, as well as radio and television broadcasting. .