Communicating Online - Don't Forget Your Manners
Today we spend much more time in online conversations that at any time in the past. Unfortunately, as we become more familiar with these new communication platforms , it is easy for us to forget the rules we adhered to in the 'old' communication platform. (Just to remind you, that is when two or more people met face-to-face, stood just a metre apart and, sometimes, even started with a handshake.) Those times taught us that good manners required us to start any conversation with rapport-building small talk. We'd enquire about how each other's day was going, chat about the weather or some other topical issue; in short, we'd make a human to human connection before getting down to business. In the online world, however, it's as if the levels of formality have flipped: Our visual presentation has become more informal. C-Level negotiations are now conducted wearing shorts and thongs - and it seems that even the visible (upper-body) clothing has become more casual. Our...