When Did We Stop Talking to Each Other?
A heartfelt exploration of communication in the modern business world. We’ve all been there – sending a carefully crafted proposal, attending a meeting, following up… and hearing nothing. Not even a “thanks, but no.”
In this latest episode, we unpack why responding matters – not just for business, but for rebuilding human connection. A genuine conversation about connection, effort, and showing you care.
In a world that feels increasingly disconnected, our small acts of communication matter. What’s your experience?
This podcast is an expansion on the thought Respond Quickly from the Book Stuff and Things available in digital and print versions on Amazon.
Recorded in my home office with a little bit of colourising as another bit of experimentation. Seems to suit the mood.
Previous Episodes can be found on the channels or in the Blog section.
Transcript:
Episode 5 – Respond Quickly
<4.2 seconds of silent film>
Well, that was a little bit uncomfortable, wasn’t it?
It was only about four seconds of silence, but it’s tapping into something that has been grinding my gears lately.
This episode was going to be called Respond Quickly, as in the book, the full title -being “Respond Quickly – it shows you’re keen, not desperate.” I am really tempted to change it to just response. At all.
It seems seems to be a rather peculiar trend these days where nobody responds to anything anymore. It’s as if the entire business world has collectively decided to play hide and seek, but forgot to tell anyone they’re actually hiding.
You know, I get it, we’re all bombarded with spam and cold emails. My own email address is plastered all over our company website, so I get a lot more than most people as well so I understand it. I’m no stranger to that unsolicited stuff and clearly you can’t respond to everything – though sometimes it’s quite nice to send a cheeky closedown, especially if something’s tickled your fancy. And there’s quote a few of them actually.
I remember one chap trying to tell me what the best burger was. Naturally, I had to set him straight – it’s Pono Burger in Los Angeles, thanks Patrick Mulford for that little gem.
But what’s really got me scratching my head, and it’s not just me as well. is the radio silence, ghosting, call it what you will, when people have actually requested things. You’ve sent a proposal they asked for, you’ve attended a meeting they set up, you follow up once, twice, thrice… and nothing. Nada. Zilch.
I find myself saying, “where has this come from?”
It never used to be like this. I appreciate we’ve all got a million and one things to do. Time is poor. But if you’ve asked for something, the least you could do is acknowledge it. Even if you’re not interested, a simple “thanks, but no thanks” would suffice. I think most people would prefer to understand if it’s not something you want to do right now, it’s just not right, it’s too expensive, whatever it might be.
Wouldn’t it be much nicer if that decision-making was much firmer, sharper, quicker? It would save us all a hell of a lot of time I’m sure.
And all around, I’m not just talking about an agency’s time, you know, we’ve made our own bed on that from a pitching perspective, we’ve now got to lie in it. But surely everybody else’s time as well?
Nobody wants those hundreds of emails saying, “hi! Just checking in if you still want to do that thing?”
But it’s not just us feeling the cold shoulder. I’ve hearing it from peers outside as well, in all corners of it. Where there’s interviews – people show up, give it their all, and then… nothing.
And bringing it back to us in the communications industry, the least you could do is… well, you know, communicate.
It kind of brings me back to the point of this little rant, moan – responding quickly.
I think some people have got it in their heads that if you respond promptly, it shows desperation. Absolute nonsense! It shows you’re on the ball, ready to react, you’re fast Some of the work we’ve won over other agencies now and in the past has been purely because we’ve been quick off the mark.
Same goes for networking. Send that LinkedIn request right after you’ve met someone while it’s still fresh. You’d be amazed how often you get the feedback, “Wow, you’re the first person to do that.” It’s not rocket science, is it?
Responding quickly takes one thing, and one thing only – effort. That’s all you need. Show you care. Show you give a monkeys.
So if there’s one thing you can take away from this, it’s probably just respond. Ideally quickly. But please just respond.
Sp you can find Respond Quickly in the book, Stuff and Things.Available now over on Amazon. The link’s probably somewhere.
Good afternoon.
