This is something that has always confused me. The text message is the modern day equivalent of the telegraph... Voice communication is a giant step forward. Why are we so in love with intentionally avoiding vocal communication with others? I see this as a large part of the problem.
I text when I am multi tasking. There are times when I am in a meeting and can't talk, but can share info via a text or IM.
As I generally have more things to do in my day than hours to do them, I break down my responses based on urgency and availability.
Here are some examples;
- Phone rings, I'm free, I answer. While driving, via handless mic
- Receive text, I'm not driving and am free, I answer based on earliest text received
- Receive email, I'm free, respond
- Phone rings, I'm with someone or working on something urgent, voice mail
- Receive text, I'm driving or doing something else, ignore till later
- Receive email, I'm busy, wait till later and then triage based on urgency. I have over 100 emails in my work inbox that I'll catch up on later.
I've learned over years to manage my time and communications this way. Put an instant communication device in the hands of a child (that is what I call all people under 18) and without some guidance, they will act like children. They will also develop bad habits, which are rampant in many people over 18 (note I don't refer to these individuals as adults).
There is a big difference between sharing information, sharing important information, and sharing important, urgent information. I've trained my kids that if they text something important and urgent and get no response, they need to use the phone. They've learned this sitting at school waiting for me to respond to a text, while I wasn't looking at my phone.
I'm also that annoying person that will turn off my mobile phone if I'm at home. Everyone that needs to contact me urgently has that number. Everyone else can wait.
