Enhancing digital dialogue: Why making them talk with each other?<\/h1><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div>Reading time <\/span> min<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>I recently had a conversation with the CEO of a large German company. Perhaps a bit provocatively he remarked: “We have \u201cYammer\u201d, \u201cTeams-Chat\u201d and even a \u201cdigital pneumatic tube system\u201d, – Why all this talking? – What added value does direct communication add in a corporate context? – “It’s preferable to handle things transparently, in writing, in a systematic fashion without the hassle of personal, direct communication. Avoiding annoying discussions with individuals saves you a lot of time.”<\/em> From the CEO’s point of view, this is all a clear advantage of digital communication. So on the surface, everything is fine! Precisely, “on the surface”.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>![](\"https:\/\/digital-in-form.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/dif-shutterstock_1408328690.jpg\" "\\"dif-shutterstock_1408328690\\"")
<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>We know the iceberg model Paul Watzlawick used to describe communication: the largest part - 7\/8 of the iceberg (the root causes that led to the Titanic sinking) - are hidden below the surface. To resolve these issues, you first have to recognize and become aware of them. Company losses due to high turnover, silo formation, internal resignation and high sick leave are often symptoms of hidden conflicts. Who has ever succeeded in resolving a conflict by email? Good luck with endless chain emails full of misunderstandings. In my opinion, it's hard to get more ineffective and destructive than that.<\/p>\n
My conclusion: the brave new world of infinite tools for digital communication offers infinite opportunities to cover up core issues and avoid direct, personal communication. Unfocused communication causes a scatter effect without any real impact which is anything but effective.
\nPeople - even those in business - like to communicate with peers that have a similar worldview. We look for reassurance, for clarity, especially in difficult situations. This is something profoundly human. Unfortunately, digitalization has made it even easier for us to drift apart thus further cementing divisions within our society and the global community. But does it have to be this way? What if we, instead, dare to use the opportunities that digitialisation and globalization offer us to promote personal, focused, and appreciative communication - precisely between those who would not otherwise exchange ideas?<\/p>\n
To do so, we would need a \u201cgame-changer\u201d<\/strong> \u2013 a new, disruptive approach, using \u201cdigitality\u201d as a kind of \u201cantidote\u201d to enhance the quality not just the quantity of communication. With \u201cAppReciate\u201c we have taken a step on a journey to help this future come to life.<\/p>\n<\/div>
Reading time <\/span> min<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div> I recently had a conversation with the CEO of a large German company. Perhaps a bit provocatively he remarked: “We have \u201cYammer\u201d, \u201cTeams-Chat\u201d and even a \u201cdigital pneumatic tube system\u201d, – Why all this talking? – What added value does direct communication add in a corporate context? – “It’s preferable to handle things transparently, in writing, in a systematic fashion without the hassle of personal, direct communication. Avoiding annoying discussions with individuals saves you a lot of time.”<\/em> From the CEO’s point of view, this is all a clear advantage of digital communication. So on the surface, everything is fine! Precisely, “on the surface”.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div> We know the iceberg model Paul Watzlawick used to describe communication: the largest part - 7\/8 of the iceberg (the root causes that led to the Titanic sinking) - are hidden below the surface. To resolve these issues, you first have to recognize and become aware of them. Company losses due to high turnover, silo formation, internal resignation and high sick leave are often symptoms of hidden conflicts. Who has ever succeeded in resolving a conflict by email? Good luck with endless chain emails full of misunderstandings. In my opinion, it's hard to get more ineffective and destructive than that.<\/p>\n My conclusion: the brave new world of infinite tools for digital communication offers infinite opportunities to cover up core issues and avoid direct, personal communication. Unfocused communication causes a scatter effect without any real impact which is anything but effective. To do so, we would need a \u201cgame-changer\u201d<\/strong> \u2013 a new, disruptive approach, using \u201cdigitality\u201d as a kind of \u201cantidote\u201d to enhance the quality not just the quantity of communication. With \u201cAppReciate\u201c we have taken a step on a journey to help this future come to life.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
\nPeople - even those in business - like to communicate with peers that have a similar worldview. We look for reassurance, for clarity, especially in difficult situations. This is something profoundly human. Unfortunately, digitalization has made it even easier for us to drift apart thus further cementing divisions within our society and the global community. But does it have to be this way? What if we, instead, dare to use the opportunities that digitialisation and globalization offer us to promote personal, focused, and appreciative communication - precisely between those who would not otherwise exchange ideas?<\/p>\n