Texting Improves Communication ... If You Try

Face it. Texting is here to stay. Love it or hate it, it's just another chapter in the long history of faster, more mobile communication technologies that started with messengers running across the Greek mountains between rulers. Whether we're using the "old school" flip-phone style of texting or the update-to-date smartphone with its virtual keyboard, nearly everyone is texting, at least to a very small group of people. In fact, the only people I know who aren't are my parents. That's because my Mom can't stay focused long enough on the "how" to make it happen!

It occurred to me while deplaning the other day and watching everyone check their messages - text and voice - that if done properly, textingcan actually improve how well we communicate with each other. The reasons lie in the technology's (perceived) limits of 140-160 characters and in the nature of short-burst opportunities occasionedby its mobility.

Communicating in Brief

Texting took hold first among young people,the groupwho often adopts new technologies most readily. It got a bad rap early on because kids don't really have much to talk about. Seriously:

What are you doing?

Nothing.

Me either.

isn't earth-shatteringly important. Moreover, the "kids" created their own lexicon of abbreviations - OMG, BTW, IMHO, etc. - which added to the perception that texting is for the young and idle ...and maybe the addled. (Note, many of these "phrases" will likely be added to the formal lexicon in the future. Before you going raging at me, remember that words like "isn't" and "doesn't" were also considered objectionable when they first appeared.)

A related vector for this technology is its inherent mobility. Again, when mobile, kids are rarely responsible for the mode of transportation. Whether they are in a car, a bus, or a train, they are free to text at will. So, again, their adoption was faster. Now that we "adults" have largely taken to texting, all the necessary rules and legislationare being passed to keep idiots from doing idiotic things like texting and driving. (If you think you can do it safely, try this test hosted by the venerable NYT - http://ow.ly/1qjKw.)

Making the Best of It

Stepping away from its origins and looking afresh at texting, there are several things about it that can improve our ability to communicate with each other, provided we make the effort. Here are some thoughts:

1. Practice Clarity - Consider Your Statements First, Craft Your Message Second. One of the greatest problems we all face with rapid communication methods like texting and e-mail is the less-than-thought-out message that generates oodles of follow-up correspondence in often futile attempts to clarify what was originally sent. If we think a little first before we hit "send," we might create more clear messages on the first go-around. This is especially true of texting where the character limits put a premium on brevity. There is a related effort going around called Five Senten.es that is promoting brief e-mails in a similar vein.


2. Leverage Appropriate Abbreviations - Say More With Less. There are a lot of texting abbreviations that do communicate clearly. "Btw" (by the way) is a perfect example. Many object to the informality of this method, along with the use of emoticons and the like. This smacks of backwards thinking given that everyone is just trying to get through the hundreds of e-mails and texts we receive each week. Doesn't it stand to reason that being more efficient with the use of language benefits both the writer and the reader?


3. Leverage Inherent Value - Use All Forms of Communication to Their Best Advantage. Texting is fabulous for short-burst, timely updates and messages. It's horrible for describing something even slightly complex. So, too, is e-mail great for providing long(ish) descriptions, but it's horrible for the generation and creation of ideas, especially among groups. Telephone calls and face-to-face meetings are great for these more "creative" efforts, but a horrible waste of time for status updates which are largely descriptive. If we use each tool in our tool belts to their best advantage, we ultimately improve communication.

There are many other ways to make the best of texting and its brethren, but in the interests of brevity, I will stop here.

Paul works with clients who believe individual performance drives organizational success. As the creator of the QuietSpacing productivity method, he is a frequent speaker and recognized expert on getting things done. Paul works with individuals, groups and organizations to create more productive working environments. You can learn more about Paul's work and subscribe to his complimentary newsletter - Six Minutes to Success - at www.quietspacing.com.