Professional communication - where is it going?

Change and development in technology is fundamental -  I am the first to back it up when it's being criticised - but sometimes the old-fashioned way is the best way and I believe that more often than not, when communicating professionally, that is the case. As someone growing up in the most significant period for the introduction of technology, I appreciate the importance of the internet and how much of an effect it's had on the world today, but I can also acknowledge the more traditional means of communication. Traditional communication methods are cherished for a reason and perhaps they were successful for so many years, because they are the most reliable. This is something that I wanted to explore further and look into the pros and cons of modern communication via the internet.



     The Telephone was of central importance in communication since it was invented by Alexander Graham Bell in 1876. It converts sounds, such as the human voice, into electric signals which can be transmitted via cables over great distances. Prior to the invention of the telephone, communicating with those at a great distance, was far from instant, relying on letters being sent by horse which could take weeks and in some cases even months. This innovative creation changed the way people communicated forever and was the primary source of conversation right up to about 5-10 years ago. The picture above is a very primitive example of a phone and as expected it has progressed a lot since its invention, but the concept remains pretty much unchanged. When you start introducing the mobile phone, then things become far more contemporary, but the telephone is found in most homes and businesses worldwide even today.

The internet is a mind-blowing phenomenon and has completely altered not only how we communicate, but how we live our lives today. Modern life is centred around the existence of the web and believe it or not it controls many of the decisions we make on a daily basis. Emailing has become rife in our society and it is a key form of communicating both professionally and for our own socialising. With the introduction of emails, came a whole new ability to communicate with anyone, anywhere in the world instantaneously and that is why it is so popular today. But are we becoming obsessed with having to have an answer immediately and is this effecting the way we expect things to happen in life outside of the internet? food for thought.

Pros and Cons

The benefits of the internet and online communication are undeniable, however I do feel that the more traditional methods are overlooked and can actually have huge perks. When trying to get in touch with a potential employer to secure an interview, sending an email might not always be the best way about it. For employers that receive hundreds of emails a day, it is quite easy for an email to get lost or forgotten about and that is something traditional communication has over the internet. If you pick up the phone and speak to someone, you are much more likely to get a response and gain the respect of an employer. Showing the determination to pick up the phone and the confidence to ring is a very attractive trait in an employee and it something I think will work in your favour. Not only that, but phone calls give you the ability to show your personality to whom you are contacting and enables you to make them warm to you as an individual.
The english language is constantly evolving but the recent addition of abbreviations and "text language" has had an effect of the way we converse with people over the internet. In my opinion this can be a bit of an issue as it becomes a habit and is engrained in online communication. Sending a quick message or email to a friend using abbreviations is not a problem at all, in fact it's very convenient. The issue arises when this becomes such a habit that this language creeps into our formal emails when communicating professionally. The use of abbreviations can appear lazy, rude and to some employers may show a lack of education and understanding of formality. This is a con to online professional communication and is something that needs to be addressed. I also feel that language can be misinterpreted in a digital format. A sentence that would otherwise sound completely ordinary may come across blunt or surly in an email or text message which you should be wary of when conversing online. Body language, tone of voice and intonation has a vast impact of the way speech is interpreted and this is missing from communication online. Sarcasm, for example, is something that will not translate well unless heard directly. Intonation is a key aspect of speech. One sentence can completely change its meaning depending on which word you place emphasis and accent on. Take the following sentence as an example : "I didn't say we should kill him!" by changing the emphasis you can utterly change the context of the sentence. Below I have re-written the sentence several times. Each time I have highlighted a different word in colour. Read the sentences and put accentuation on the coloured word and see how the context changes.

"I didn't say we should kill him"

"I didn't say we should kill him"

"I didn't say we should kill him"

"I didn't say we should kill him"

"I didn't say we should kill him"

"I didn't say we should kill him"

"I didn't say we should kill him"

When communicating online it is vital that you are aware that your language can be misinterpreted and that is perhaps why I feel it is often better to communicate via the phone or face-to-face. There are so many aspects to language and this does not always translate well into emails, therefore when trying to impress a potential employer or colleague you must be wary of the way it might be received.

To sum this all up, I certainly cannot ignore the great advances made by technology and I can't deny its usefulness in society, however I do feel that professional communication online needs to be approached with caution and although it is a lot quicker, easier and less daunting to send an email, it often pays off to take the time and do it on the phone, old-fashioned way!

Thanks for reading :-)