When I was a kid, my grandmother only called us on Sundays because that’s when long distance rates were lowest. My other grandparents had an old phone on the wall that required an operator to make connections. Things have changed!
We went from group lines where four or five families could listen to each other’s conversations. It was important to respect the unwritten rules of not interrupting for thirty minutes before requesting that the line be cleared so a call could be made.
Then came the rotary dial. When your finger slipped, you had to start over.
Next up was the push button option where you could store frequently used phone numbers. That was easy.
We now have voice control in our cars and on our phones. All we have to do is verbally order a piece of software, disguised as a person, to make a call for us and presto!
The rise of technology, however, has a downfall. By speeding things up, he has put pressure on us to speed up.
I remember a former mayor telling me, “I used to like the old days when someone would send me a letter. I had a couple of days to think about it and then give an answer. Now someone emails me in the morning and calls me in the afternoon.” to find out why I still answered”.
It is important to remember that you must not allow one person’s crisis to become your crisis. Just because someone has decided to contact you doesn’t mean you have to respond right away.
I remember a story about Dr. Phil. He explained that he and his wife had eleven phones in his house but only one of them was ringing. It was the chef’s phone. The others had a voicemail message that read, “You have reached Phil and Robin’s home. Please leave a message and if we think it’s important we’ll get back to you. Otherwise we’ll treat it as information only.” “.
At first I thought this was rude, but then I realized it was a way to set healthy boundaries and let callers know what to expect.
Very often I come across entrepreneurs who have an inflated sense of customer service. They think they have to immediately respond to any calls, texts or emails as soon as they arrive. Unfortunately, this robs them of the ability to enjoy life without interruption.
Even in one’s personal life, people are often convinced that they must respond quickly. This sabotages thinking time, stops personal activities, and destroys respect for others in the room who are deferred to a lower priority.
What do you think would happen if you promised not to answer any messages until the end of the day? Would you do more things? I believe many questions will be answered and problems resolved when you reply.
What if you were like the mayor who wanted a couple of days to think about his answer before drafting it? Or if you were like my grandmother who could wait until Sunday to talk?
If you’re not ready to consider making these changes in your life yet, would you be willing to pretend you have a party line and need to wait thirty minutes before taking action?
Time to slow down.
And remember, don’t let someone else’s crisis become your crisis.