In the prior Pack Protocols LLC blog: Packaging Relationships, the intent was to display how the packaging industry has not evolved over many decades. However; what has changed rapidly in packaging are the behaviors of the people within the industry. Pack Protocols will sum up why there is a shift, possible causes and outcomes to packaging communications.
Business has always looked for a competitive advantage. In the mid to late decades of the twentieth century interaction with other parties utilized business meetings or phone calls to assist with packaging projects. At the turn of the twenty first century e-mail became the status quo to obtain faster responses. In the past decade up to present; there has been an influx of communication technology that has gone mainstream. This may be the root cause of people’s change in behavior.
With the increase of being available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week there are multiple streams of information being pushed on modern day workers. To make matters worse; there are bots that are contacting humans in various ways, along with social media, video chats, webinars, blogs, forums, SMS (text) messaging, etc. These things can overload the human brain and discourage any interaction, which is unfortunate.
It is believed that constant infiltration of wanted or unwanted information is preventing people from completely focusing on their job responsibilities leading to being consumed or distracted. Many individuals are already “busy” being inundated with work with possible resource shortages. Being accessible at any moment can cause another unwanted strain. To thwart the invasion; a few individuals have tried to limit their responses while others have just stopped completely responding at all because it has become too much.
Conversely, there are individuals that only will reach out when they need something which may be a precursor to a breakdown of business relationships.
Pack Protocols has experienced this first hand where someone will contact for support. When following up with the individual to progress with communications, it is met with being sent directly to voice mail, blowing off of scheduled meetings without notification, non-responses to texts and e-mail.
If the project has gone in a different direction, the best approach is to reach the other party and directly tell them. It’s unfair for someone to waste valuable time and effort trying to proceed with the project when there is no acknowledgment.
If there is no correspondence, not only will the individual/company lose a current relationship; most likely it will adversely alter the future of the relationship. It could potentially cause more damage as word spreads via technology or mouth. The value of the relationship has been diminished.
It is understood that everyone cannot available all the time, but common courtesy is still needed in the human world. Business etiquette is a lost art that needs to be salvaged!
If you or your business have not stopped reading this post because of the following:
- The article was longer than two paragraphs.
- Did not include a executive summary with bullet points.
- Did not include a video/pod-cast.
Pack Protocols LLC would like to Thank You. Feel free to reach out to us at [email protected] or call us at 657-204-6093. Maybe we can collaborate on a project or discuss communication tips? We promise we will not ghost you!