Should we be concerned that technology is changing our ability to communicate?

 You may want to check out the talk by Dr Sherry Tuckle at the LSE on the subject of technology called 'Alone Together' (also the title of her book, I believe). It's available free as a podcast on iTunes and it moves the debate beyond the realms of communicating in organisations and into the somewhat scary area of privacy and democracy. I found it very thought provoking and I thought you might also.

BLUF for all you High D's:

She feels something is amiss.

There are many positive aspects to our digital lives and reliance on social media will continue to grow. 

Online we can be watched, our moves under surveillance and we are unaware, ignorant or apathetic to the dangers. 

We should (love that word!!) focus on the concept of privacy which is based on our human rights within a democracy. 

I just heard an HBR podcast on this subject with an interview of an MIT professor. She asserts that YES technology is killing our ability to communicate, because we go to meetings and check our email. We have dinner with our kids while "doing email." We have presentations online, but are really surfing the net or otherwise not paying attention. She feels the payoff (being able to meet with global teams) is not worth all that we have lost. 

...and I'm not prone to answer them.

But the answer to your question is that non face to face communications are less effective than face to face ones.  And since communication is the most frequent thing we do, and so very very hard, we ought ALWAYS be concerned about anything which makes it harder.

I offer as examples the BILLIONS of emails every day which are missent, miswritten, misinterpreted, misunderstood and destroyers of time and value.

Mark

If I'm in the same/adjacent building as someone and they're available I'll go and talk to them, maybe take them for a coffee.

If I'm in a building near where they are I'll drop them a mail, IM or maybe a phone call (there are various corporate culture and logistical issues that make email or IM preferable to a phone call, your organisation may vary) to set up a time we can meet, maybe go for coffee.

If I'm further from them than makes it reasonable or practical for us to meet face to face then I'll email or IM them, maybe phone them (there are various corporate culture and logistical issues that make email or IM preferable to a phone call, your organisation may vary).  VOIP and Video conference are banned on our network so aren't an option.

I'm currently collaborating (via email, IM and a shared forum) with 7 people in 7 different countries and 5 different timezones on a Sharepoint problem.  The cost of doing that face to face would be unjustifiable, plus that would deny the people I'm collaborating with easy access to the people they work with who are able to provide suggestions and ideas.

Choice of mode of communication is influnced by the situation in which you find yourself.  That can include the restrictions placed on you, timescales required and communications preferences/requirements odf those commuinicating.

 Stephen

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Skype: stephenbooth_uk  | DiSC: 6137

"Start with the customer and work backwards, not with the tools and work forwards" - James Womack