Last week, I had the opportunity to spend the Rosh Hashana holiday in Hamilton and as a result, I was exposed to some inspirational thoughts from Rabbi Daniel Green during the synagogue services.
I don’t think he targeted his sermon for my benefit, but he seemed to be talking right to me in the opening of his sermon on the second day. He began by talking about accidental calls from a jostled cell phone, using that introduction to speak about interpersonal communications and the challenges that have been introduced by technologies that are most fashionable today.
The point he was making had to do with the increasingly rare skill of listening. Much of our industry has focussed on enabling more rapid communications. When we are always on-line, we rush through each interaction. Short forms in text and instant messages. Informal, brief email. Quick encounters on cell phones. Impersonal calls from telemarketers.
Is there enough attention being focussed on better, deeper communications? Helping people listen to each other.
Telecommunications is a two-way pipe. How many people simply are looking for gaps in the other person’s speech in order to insert their comments?
In the telecom industry, we can introduce all sorts of innovative technologies. Who is helping to ensure that communications, real in-depth communicating, gets improved – or at least maintained – along the way?
I have been involved in some interesting multi-disciplinary projects at two universities that may partly address these concerns. I’ll write more on that later this week.
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Rosh Hashana, Daniel Green