Are we Utilizing Technology or Hiding Behind it?

Social media, email, texting—they all have their place. But, have we lost our ability to communicate without them? Now don’t get me wrong- I realize the irony of a PR professional seemingly discrediting the very tools we encourage our clients to embrace. That’s not what I am doing at all. My observation is merely that we, as a society, seem to be unable to communicate in the traditional, ‘old school’ ways. Case in point- when pitching a story idea to an editor, our first arsenal is typically to email them and wait for a reply. What about picking up the phone and calling? Do you experience the panic that goes through you when someone actually picks up their phone and you were rehearsing your voice mail message in your mind and now can’t speak coherantly?

I think we have trained ourselves to assume technology will take over and don’t have the comfort and ease to just speak! The interaction with another person is intimately different when you hear their voice or see them in person. We encourage clients to go on press tours and meet members of the press in person for that very reason—relationship building. The ease and simplicity of electronic communication has definitely made it a part of our professional and personal lives, but it shouldn’t be our only way.

I realize how busy we are and how much easier it is to post something to your blog for your family to see, or send a quick text or email to a friend, but don’t completely eliminate a quick phone call or in-person visit. Technology is available to enhance our ability to communicate, not eliminate the direct interaction between people. Use the tools available to further your message, but don’t forget that your smartphone can still function as a telephone!