Something I've been thinking about a lot lately is that communications have a momentum to them. This is more true now than ever, since the vast majority of our communications are now handled instantly or near-instantly. If I meet someone, and I have an urgent need to get in touch with him or her, I may send an email to them the next day. If they feel that it is important to respond to me in like manner, they'll write back within 24 hours. By this reciprocation of pace and energy in our communictions, we're saying that we're on the same page, that we feel the same way about whatever topic we're discussing. At the same time, if I meet someone and want to get in touch with them, but it is less urgent, I may write to them a week or so after I mention the topic to them. Then, either they'll write back write away, if they're really interested, or if they're more cool to the idea, they may give it a week. In this way, we can understand how interested other people are in what we're talking about.
This momentum is also reflected in the length and consideration of emails. We have all received the "long lost friend" emails... The "I haven't seen you in ten years so let me tell you about my kids" emails. You receive 1000 word email, and you read it. But you can't just quickly write back, so you sit on it. You want to make a thoughtful response that echoes what you received. So a week or two goes by and then you finally carve out time to write. And you write 1000 words back to your friend. Tag, you're it. Now they've got to find time to sit down and write an equally thoughtful email. Too often, one correspondent or the other drops the ball, and you're out of touch again. If you're lucky, the emails get more rapid (with less time between them) and shorter, until you're actually having something like a typical email conversation.
One place that the momentum of communication has been carefully documented is in dating. Books like The Rules (for a female audience) and David DeAngelo's work (for a male audience) include consideration of the rhythm of communications in their approaches to sending the intended signals to the opposite sex. Call within 3 days. The next day may seem too eager, while calling a week later may give the impression that, well, he's just not that into you.
I think the lesson here, and my point to writing this, is that it is important to consider your communications very carefully... You're saying something to your audience with the frequency, intensity, length, and timing of your communications. If you're aware of this, you can carefully tailor the message you send to make yourself heard and (hopefully) elicit the response that you're looking for.
This momentum is also reflected in the length and consideration of emails. We have all received the "long lost friend" emails... The "I haven't seen you in ten years so let me tell you about my kids" emails. You receive 1000 word email, and you read it. But you can't just quickly write back, so you sit on it. You want to make a thoughtful response that echoes what you received. So a week or two goes by and then you finally carve out time to write. And you write 1000 words back to your friend. Tag, you're it. Now they've got to find time to sit down and write an equally thoughtful email. Too often, one correspondent or the other drops the ball, and you're out of touch again. If you're lucky, the emails get more rapid (with less time between them) and shorter, until you're actually having something like a typical email conversation.
One place that the momentum of communication has been carefully documented is in dating. Books like The Rules (for a female audience) and David DeAngelo's work (for a male audience) include consideration of the rhythm of communications in their approaches to sending the intended signals to the opposite sex. Call within 3 days. The next day may seem too eager, while calling a week later may give the impression that, well, he's just not that into you.
I think the lesson here, and my point to writing this, is that it is important to consider your communications very carefully... You're saying something to your audience with the frequency, intensity, length, and timing of your communications. If you're aware of this, you can carefully tailor the message you send to make yourself heard and (hopefully) elicit the response that you're looking for.
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