Marion's Communication Tips

When was the last time you connected face to face with someone for the first time? Perhaps it was a colleague that you'd emailed or spoken with on the phone, and had never met. Or maybe it was someone you already knew well and were glad to see in person.

This past weekend I had the pleasure of attending a 10-year reunion for "Women Moving Forward" in Kanata, Ontario. A group of 20 ladies, from all different businesses and backgrounds, gathered to commemorate an organization that helped women connect on a personal face-to-face and heart-to-heart basis.

It was so interesting to meet some of these ladies in person. We had chatted on Facebook, exchanged comments and photos, yet had never actually seen each other in person. It was magic. And it reminded me how important it is to connect in person.

I don't care how great technology is - there is nothing, absolutely nothing, that will replace face-to-face communication.

When you reach out and shake someone's hand, you're getting a universe of information. Is that hand cold or warm? Soft or calloused? Weak or strong? In those few seconds, you consciously or unconsciously deduce if that person is nervous or relaxed, an office worker or tradesperson, shy or confident. That's the benefit of meeting face to face.

Even the wonderful technologies that are now available to us, like teleconferencing or video calls, pale in comparison to the visceral response we get to seeing someone in person. As amazing as this technology is in connecting you across the miles, it is trumped by face-to-face communication.

Think about the people with whom you communicate. Perhaps they are colleagues in other countries, clients on the other side of the country ... or maybe they're just on the other side of your building. Imagine going to a social function, meeting or conference and seeing them for the first time in person.

That personal touch connection is irreplaceable.

There never was, never is, never will be anything that garners so much information, satisfaction and visceral response as human face-to-face communication. That's why you pay to see celebrities in person, to hear bands play live and to attend conferences with speakers you've heard of and colleagues you rarely get to see. 

Who do you want to meet, face-to-face?

Who have you communicated with recently using only technology? Who in your life would benefit from a face-to-face exchange with you?

Here's your action item for this week: get in touch with a colleague and arrange to meet face-to-face. It could be casually over coffee or more formally in a meeting. However it feels most comfortable, you choose.

Regardless of the venue, when you shake the hand, look in the eyes, read the body language and see the facial expressions, you'll remember why face-to-face is so important. Because it connects you on a deeper level. Go get connected, in person.

Until next time, here's to ...
Better communication, Better business, Better life,
Marion Grobb Finkelstein
COMMUNICATION CATALYST
Keynote Speaker / Corporate Trainer / Author
www.MarionSpeaks.com
Marion@MarionSpeaks.com

www.facebook.com/MarionSpeaks  

© 2012 Marion Grobb Finkelstein

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