Face-to-Face will always trump, but this social media trend is close
Consider an organization’s internal communications – When you see dysfunction in an organization, it can often be boiled down to lack of one thing, communication. People don’t talk enough. They don’t ask the right questions or seek out the right answers. Do you agree? For various reasons, people don’t want, or cannot find the time to, make the effort to create the face-to-face time that would really enhance communication between coworkers, colleagues, supervisors, and every kind of business relationship.
Not finding or connecting via face-to-face leads to other forms of interacting such as voluminous emails that could be copied unnecessarily to others. That leads to emails either being unread, ignored or sucking time that should be spent conducting the real business of the moment. It can also increase drama and a perceived urgency that leads to ‘kinks’ in the workflow.
Consider the entrepreneur’s communication style – Often mobile, interacting with clients almost instantly. Much more often through a messaging service such as Facebook messenger. The flow of information going back and forth seamlessly with emails or phone calls set up as appropriate.
Companies are beginning to see the advantages of encouraging more ‘chat’ within their organizations. Right now, there are nearly 4 billion active users of messaging apps. The top 5 apps in the world, in terms of frequency of use, are all messaging apps! All major social platforms now have messaging components and this has become a major customer service feature for external to internal communications!
Social Media at work for internal to internal use is on the rise – According to Ryan Holmes, CEO of Hootsuite, “Social media at work is on the rise. For years now, we’ve been promised that a new generation of internal social networks—for use inside company walls—will spell the end of email. No more hunting through your inbox for information. No more group email threads from Hell. And yet email has lumbered on in the workplace. Facebook’s new workplace networking platform Facebook at Work is officially being used in trialmode by 300 companies. With studies showing that using social media at work increases productivity and engagement, it’s only a matter of time before more businesses get on the bandwagon.” – Read Ryan’s full article here.
Face-to-face will always trump, but... As a mind-voice-body in sync trainer of face-to-face communications, I know the most important way to relay information and gain trust is through dialog and direct contact. However, it is clear from the above that messaging and instant communications enhanced with face-to-face is the trend of today. Let us not forget, looking into someone’s eyes, voice intonations and body language will always trump!
As a coach, trainer and consultant, Larry Blumsack partners with people and organizations on the move and those already there to accelerate their communication, presentation and speaking skills to be on par with their ambition. Through one-on-one coaching and group training Larry helps leaders and aspiring leaders elevate their presence and communication skills to influence more people, sell more products-services-ideas and inspire others more successfully than they ever imagined.
Larry is the bestselling author of Face-to-Face is The Ultimate Social Media and founder of Zoka Institute and Zoka Training®. Zoka Training® — Mind/Voice/Body/Mindfulness in sync — is the result of Larry’s 45 years as a coach, acting teacher, actor, voice-over artist, theater and TV director/producer, radio & TV commentator and show host, speaker, trainer, serial entrepreneur, and syndicated columnist. Larry was a founding member of the theater department at Northeastern University.
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