Have you ever thought about the word ‘conversation’ and what it means by definition? It’s a form of interactive, spontaneous communication between 2 or more people. And typically, we would use dialogue and the engagement of a natural language. Now that’s a concept! Old school by today’s standards
The use of language and having a real conversation is a very important part of socialization and it helps create trust and build relationships. We can establish and maintain a social connection.
Conversation can become a discussion. An exchange of thoughts, opinions and ideas that can escalate into a debate, an argument or they can bring about some mutual understanding that allows us to agree, find resolution and move something forward….or backwards. How cool is that – we discussed it and resolved it. We solved a problem. We discovered something. We accomplished something and this should be a driving force behind the conversation, because it’s productive and a great use of time. Many feel that we DON’T have time to talk, so we resort to the alt conversation, which isn’t a conversation at all. It might seem easy to hide behind the keyboard and/or your mobile device, but in the long run, with exception, we really aren’t being effective and rarely can we find some reward in that.
We rely on conversation less and less as we continue to re-define it with the use of text and a keyboard. A written exchange should not be considered a conversation. It’s not as functional or practical as what the voice can do.
Texting is not talking! Content might be king’ – but I think when it comes to a conversation – ‘context rules’. The conversation with the keyboard can be content driven, but the context can be, with exception, completely misinterpreted and that can cause many other issues. That takes the conversation in a useless direction and wastes more time. Tone really plays a role in a conversation and that can also get lost in translation when using fingers and not the mouth. There is nothing emotional in the text, which if received incorrectly, can be dangerous. We have all had that experience when we meant ‘X’ and your partner took it as ‘Y’. Then you have the, ‘that’s not what I meant’ thing going. Waste of time.
Talk, talk, talk…..I would give anything to have that on a regular basis.
If we carry on an artificial conversation with the keyboard, do we really get a full understanding and get our head around the issues we are dealing with. Doesn’t matter if it’s a significant work related thing or just some personal business – either way, the best way to get things done, move on and know that we are on the same page, is to TALK. Let’s transfer our ideas using dialogue. Let’s make observations and decisions based on that dialogue. Let’s process that dialogue and build it into a conversation.
Talk and time work well together. Use them both wisely.