Who Needs to Hear From You Now?

In times of uncertainty and crisis, like the COVID-19 pandemic, which quarantined us all, the human voice is one of the most potent comforting tools to connect. So many people text one another a quick check-in thought like "how are you doing?" Yet is there enough emotion in a text? Can we actually feel that person's level of happiness, distress, or anxiety by the words in a TEXT or an email? The answer is no.

It is the same thing with posting on FaceBook to stay in touch. It is okay for a quick stay-in-touch but not the best means to personally stay connected, human to human.

Our ability to communicate is broken into ranges of communication effectiveness. Effectiveness is how well we are received and understood by the people we interact with. Our words only carry 7% while our voice and tone yield us 38%. The whopping winner to best understand one another is body language, which yields 55% effectiveness. So no wonder things get lost in translation, or our sarcasm gets misunderstood.

Voicemail helps boost our ability to be more relatable. How many times have you gotten great news in a voicemail and played it over and over, smiling with joy? Voicemails died off in popularity when people left dissertations instead of a quick message. Today’s norms are not to hear someone’s voice. So imagine... what is the impact of that?

When you call someone that has been on your mind, they are the most important person in your world at that moment. You are giving them your full, undivided attention in a world of constant distractions.

When you smile while they are on the phone, your positive energy flows through the air into their body. Standing up during your phone call gives you a higher level of positive energy to connect; try it, it will make all the difference. Especially if you make each other laugh… is there anything better than having a moment when you both burst out laughing? Laughter bonds you with a person on another level, it seeds a place where friendship begins.

Action item:

Grab a pen (or your device) and list the names of people who are in your circles. Who do you care about? Then add the names of people that have been important to you within the last year, and create another list of those who were memorable over the past decade. Think on it. Perhaps they are a mentor, pastor, neighbor, realtor, teacher, treasured friend, a family member who faded away, colleague, former co-worker, or coach and realize this is a person who possibly needs to hear from me now. There are no coincidences.

Connecting Tip:

I love to have a funny or exciting story to share to make them smile or laugh. Add notes into your phone (under their contact name) about key things they shared; this helps your memory the next time you talk.

Hearing your voice and knowing you cared enough to make time to pick up the phone will bring joy into their life and refreshingly into yours too. If you are unable to make phone calls daily, record a 30-second video to text or FB message to the person in your heart.

Connecting Tip: Ask if they need anything. Ask about what's going on in their world. Then listen. It doesn't have to be a long call, just sincere and thoughtful. Make sure you say, "first off, I'm just checking to make sure you and your family are doing alright." Then ask "So, How are you?"

There have been many times the person I called needed a referral for a trusted repair service, a prayer said for a family member, a laugh, or a delivery of a specific item that was hard to find.

- If you hear a need, put your mind and contacts list to work to figure out how to be of service. If you need a resource, feel free to reach out to me for an assist.

As we adjust to our new norm of at-home solitude, make your list and try calling three people a day that need to hear from you. I am one of them :)

Leave a heartfelt voicemail if they don't pick-up. Either way, you'll be reconnected, and if it goes well, ask to set up a facetime or zoom date to see their faces, talk more, and feel their energy.

Wishing you all peace and excellent health this Spring Season.

Happy Growth Networking!