03 Oct Keeping in Touch – The Modern Way
Two years ago, our workplaces were almost unrecognisable from those today. The COVID-19 pandemic has had both sudden – and frankly catastrophic – effects as a result of our increasing reliance on technology. As a result of both situations, we developed new methods of working that will remain with us long after the pandemic has ended. To maximise our productivity, we will continue to improve and refine technology.
Any workplace has a chance of thriving no matter what changes are made in and around the workplace – and that factor is communication. Every organisation around the world depends on communication to function effectively and be productive.
Since technology has enabled us to communicate in a variety of ways over the years, communication is no longer simply a phone call or face-to-face meeting. Let’s explore some of the ways we communicate that we are all familiar with, followed by a look at communication in the future.
Traditional communication
In recent years, email has been the most popular form of communication in the workplace. Email has had a remarkable run – being at the peak of communications since its release in the early 1970s is a very long time in technology terms. When compared with the capabilities of the modern workplace, is Email a good enough form of communication?
The most prevalent problem with email is spam, as we all know. Despite improvements in spam filters, a very large percentage of emails received are still spam, and for some, this is not good enough. It takes a long time to sift through the endless ads for local takeaways and a random website you visited a few months ago, before you are able to get back to your important work in the modern business world.
Conversations can take far too long when using Email – users can spend hours playing ‘Email tennis’, which seriously impacts the amount they can accomplish during the working day.
Meetings
Meetings are no longer what they used to be. In traditional meetings, the boss would outline the positives and negatives of how business was being conducted in a cramped, hot room. The way meetings are conducted has always posed problems – that’s probably why they’re rarer in most workplaces than they should be. In recent years, technology has enabled businesses to adopt an alternative method for scheduling meetings – and it’s a very good one.
The Telephone
The telephone is still the most popular form of business communication, and this is not likely to change anytime soon. Even though we live in a modern world, there is nothing more powerful than the tone of your voice and your own language when trying to complete a business deal – the personal approach produces far better results than a written email or message. Currently, most people prefer using the telephone for conversations that need to take place right now over popular chat-based messaging platforms such as Teams and Zoom.
By no means are we recommending that business owners get rid of their office telephones and switch to alternatives on their own. Nevertheless, we recommend you assess your current phone system, as it may need a modern upgrade.
The traditional landline technology is outdated. Being contactable at all times is essential in the modern workplace. It is possible that potential or existing clients will take their business elsewhere or, at the very least, have a bad impression of the way you do business if they cannot reach you. The phone is the lifeline that keeps you, your customers, and your suppliers in contact, so if you want to achieve levels of collaboration, communication, and productivity that will enable your business to not just survive but thrive, it is imperative that you be contactable constantly. There is nothing that can stop this from happening. A customer doesn’t care about the circumstances of your absence – whether a power outage, a flood, or anything else – they still want unbroken communication.
Our next blog will examine modern communicative methods and see how they can revolutionize your workplace forever.
IT specialists
At Netcom we are well-versed in helping companies in various sectors to navigate the often mystifying, jargon-filled world of IT. With over 15 years’ experience covering virtually all aspects of business IT, we can help guide your business to a prosperous future with the right IT at your side every step of the way. We can help you deploy cutting edge solutions that will not only help you weather the storm that is modern IT but also keep your business at the top of its game post pandemic and beyond. Contact us today.
