I’m stepping off my social media box for a minute to have a rant. I’m obviously using this medium on a daily basis; it makes up a huge part of my work and social life. But the effect it’s having on in-person, face to face communication is simply disastrous.
I sat in a meeting last week with four people around a table, and spent a good 10 minutes waiting for everyone to put their phones down and look me in the face to continue the conversation.
Yes, we’re all busy nowadays, and web access is very useful. But it’s also much more intrusive. When sitting around having an impromptu meeting, you’re less likely to power up your laptop mid-conversation – it’s just too bulky. But a mobile is just THERE, and if you’re conversing with your followers on Twitter, or checking your emails - you aren’t connecting with the people in front of you.
It’s almost an accepted practice at many of the events I go to, and one I’m most definitely guilty of. But it’s taken a long time for me to come around. When I first started working in this space, and walked into a meeting where everyone was glued to their laptops, I couldn’t help but think what the point was of these people being in the room.
I know, I know - efficiency and all that. But surely turning your computer off for half an hour and truly listening is more effective than zoning out and splitting your time between 3 or 4 different things at once for an entire afternoon? There is such a thing as spreading yourself too thinly.
I know people who’d happily sit and type away while in an internal meeting, but wouldn’t dream of doing so when meeting a new business prospect. This thought-process for me is a validation of my point. Talking to the top of a laptop, or staring at someone tapping on his or her phone hardly inspires confidence does it? It certainly doesn’t make your team feel as if they’re worthy of your attention.
There’s a danger in ignoring the people around you – people that you can influence in a much more effective and richer way by having a real conversation with. As such, I’m calling for a bit of balance people. I love what social sites provide me with, as well as the convenience – but you still can’t beat in-person interaction for real business value.
I could, as suggested, provide a solution to said problem – but surely that’s just common sense no? Turn off your phone when you’re in a meeting, or just pay some simple courtesy to the people around you by not getting your phone out mid-conversation.