The Delete Key

I have to admit that it's one of the things of life that really rubs me the wrong way. Yet I have been unable to really figure out why people do it. I will spend some time to compose a message I intend to send to people via email. Now I know this is dangerous because it has now been several years since email became the most effective yet ineffective means of communication. It is a struggle at times just to get past the automatic deletion or the spam filter but for the sake of this argument let's say we have made it that far. The email requests a response from the person on the receiving end. I could be seeking additional information or a simple yes or no. But there is no response. A couple of days pass and I resend the email, usually it has been rewritten it and reduced its size making it even easier for them to respond. Still nothing. I have a rule about three times being the charm. I tell the person on the receiving end that I will quit bothering them if they just tell me they are not interested in what I am presenting. In other words, I want them to tell me, "NO". There is no question this would enhance the communication process and it would save a whole lot of time. But the lack of response is down right rude. I am sure you have all experienced it at one point or another. You are left hanging and the frustration just builds and builds.

The key is to have some backbone. The technology of this day and age has made it easy for people to ignore one another. It’s called the delete key. That one key on the computer puts up a brick wall to communication. If it wasn’t so functional for other purposes, like correcting my mistakes as I typed this, I would suggest keyboards of the future be made without a delete key. We know that will never happen so it would appear it would be better to deal with the situation in another way.

It’s s okay to tell someone no. It won't hurt them. But to try to simply avoid the issue hoping it will go away demonstrates a lack of maturity and courage. So the next time someone asks you for a yes or a no in an email or for that matter just a response, have the courtesy to answer them and to do so quickly. You will be better off and so will the other person. I feel better now.

Jim Boyd
Pres. Keys 4 Life
www.keys-4-life.com
515-707-3956