clearly, somebody has a fucked up set of bookmarks or a horrible search engine to get to this forest of rambling thoughts. maybe, it is a orphanage of runaway thought? hmm. book title for my memoirs?
check back in 20 years.
but, i digress... as usual.
timely responses. it should be a pretty easy concept to grasp. when you initiate contact with an individual either on a professional or personal level, you expect that person to reciprocate at a minimum with a response. it could be a simple as 'message received' or 'thank you'. just something to acknowledge the other person's time.
this all started from an accepted linkedin invitation response i received this week. when i looked at the name, i had no idea who the person was. of course, i start to wonder if this was some sort of spam/hack/etc. it turns out that is was a response to an invite that i had sent out back in june 2009. to be quite honest i have no recollection of the person. over 2 years. i think that would definitely not fall into the timely-response bucket. well, that got the ole gears turning.
but, maybe i need to break timely response into its 2 components. they can be 2 very different items. my above statement seemed to be more about an actual response. so, lets break them apart.
first, let's talk or continue to talk about a response.
as, i said it seems like such a simple act to just say thank you when you receive something. i am sure we can all remember having to write, in hand, our thank-you notes for gifts. this was always a task that was required after christmas and my birthday. i recall a few times when mother's attention was laser-focused on my letter completion. however, it was a good thing for me to do. it established a certain level of responsibility and gratitude in me. fast-forward to our 'space-age' of communication methods. it seems like it should be so much easier to acknowledge the receipt of some sort of communication from anyone.
and, before i get going to far on a rant, i will confess that i have been guilty of this very thing. i am not trying to pass judgement. i am just trying to bring things to light. you can't fix what you don't is broken. i think that i am really good about responding to personal communciations. well, except for those generic blasts around the holidays. i consider those the same as spam or junk mail and i don't respond to those.
ok, my misses tend to be more related to work issues. you say that you will get back to somebody on a review of a presentation or something minor. we all do it. i have to admit that i try to always acknowledge a person's communication and respond if i am require too. also, i only send out materials that are truly required. i feel that we are so swamped with communications that we can forget to respond. but, it also falls to me to pull that information/response if it is truly needed. and, i think i do that. i try to insure that a person does have enough time to respond.
so, where does this put me know?
well, i will continue to send emails, texts, calls to people i care about. i will try to not make them superficial but significant. i will keep an open mind to their schedules BUT i will have to at some point convey the importance of them acknowledging my part. nothing worse than a one-sided relationship but sometimes people need a little more from you. we have to be willing to allow the ebb and flow of relationships, and know that at a later time they will do the same for you.
and, i will just make sure that i am practicing what i preach. much easier said than done. especially in our society these days. and, i will continue to remember responsibility and accountability. and, i can only control my life. others. well, you are on your own but i am willing to help however i can. just ask.
well, i think i am good. this was good for me. you? well, you could always leave a timely response/comment...like right after you read this. :)
-tffjr
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