Top Ten Lessons Learned - #10: Stay Connected

Today's world is a rush of activity. Does anything stay the same? While I use my connection to technology, email and instant messaging to the fullest to keep on top of changes and tasks during the day, these will never replace my personal connections with those I work with and care for.

Technology is a blessing and a curse. Too often I've seen technology draw a wedge between teams and expanded teams. Sometimes I fall into an email rut and make the excuse that I don't have time to call or visit. A week or so later, I realize that I feel extremely disconnected from my team. Did Mark buy that car he was talking about two weeks ago? Did Tina solve the pricing model issue she had last week? Make sure you are using technology to connect you to job efficiency but not at the expense of your connections with people around you.

Advice: Every now and then pick up the phone and call a colleague or your mentor. Visit a vendor or a client rather than send an email or an instant message. Stand up from your desk and walk around the office. Make eye contact. Talk with people you see. I have seen people emailing their teammates who sat right next to them (truth be told, I've actually done this. Shame, shame...). While I am a firm believer in email trails, unless you are emailing news to several people who are both near and far or you need a time/date stamp on the information you are sending and receiving, stand up and talk with your teammates if they are sitting close to you. It will also make your email adminstrator happy by not cluttering data storage with non-essential emails.

If you are working from home or a field office, you need to make more of an effort to create a personal connection with your clients, co-workers and/or management. Emailing will not tie you to your colleagues if you don't follow-up with a phone call or a walk-in visit.

Does anyone write personal notes anymore using pen and paper? I had to fill out an application the other day and found that holding a pen felt odd. My once beautiful penmenship was hard to invoke. I made a vow to write a note once a week to a friend or a colleague to maintain my handwriting skills and to connect a little more personally with the people I care about.

Always remember that it's the people closest to us who will watch our backs and help us during tough times. That matters more than the time savings of IMing on the fly to keep in touch.