The Key to Rentals

Communication / Texting

The past couple decades have dramatically changed how we communication. Emails are no longer a novelty or even preferred. For most of us the days of our dial-up modem connecting to our ISP and waiting for emails to download are gone. Hopefully the “Teddy Bears and Hugs” emails with pictures from your Aunt Betty slowing your download are gone too.

Young adults have grown-up in an era of constant communications across multiple sources like texting, Snapchat, Facebook Messenger, and obviously the “shunned” phone call.

With multiple applications available, and the permanency of the electronic communications, these are a few tips to keep in mind.

1. Messaging is permanent and easily duplicated. Don’t send anybody messages or photos that you don’t want “out there”. You could be loading your closet with skeletons to fall out at the worst time in the near or distant future. 
2. Not all people are savvy with managing multiple communication messages. Be mindful of confusing people by switching between communications methods. If after the expected response time has passed, trying a different method may be needed. Your communication could have been missed.
3. Texting is great. They should be used for quick messages like, “I’m on my way”, or “stop and pick up the pizza”. Negotiations or business communications absolutely should not be text. Written communication at a minimum should be an email thread. Agreements are in writing, with either an electronic signature or a “wet signed” pen and paper signature. Text messaged are easily muddied with deletions, new threads to add or remove people, or any other things. Texting for important communications…just don’t.
4. It’s okay to call. Understandably, a lot of people prefer that their phone never ring, but sometimes its best. A 60 second verbal communication can be quicker and more effective than a cryptic string of text messages.
5. IYKYK (if you know, you know). If you don’t you don’t. Not everybody understands what your abbreviations mean. Don’t be ambiguous.
6. If you are driving, texts will fall into only two categories. It is either important enough to pull over safely and put the car in park to take care of it, or it can wait. There is no in-between of what is acceptable to text while you are driving. You may think that you can multi-task, but you can’t. Your brain tries to quickly switch between your focus on driving and your focus on your phone. Really, you think you can, but you can’t.  Multi-tasking drivers create a hazard. You may feel comfortable with the risk to yourself, but others are not comfortable with the risk you bring to them and their families. Stop it.