Use Your Words

As toddlers, my kids mastered non-verbal communication. Crying, pointing, or throwing things conveyed that they wanted something, but didn’t help us understand the problem.

When they used these tools after learning to talk, we always said, “Use your words.”

Today, we have abundant communication tools: text, email, Twitter, Facebook. All written, all instantaneous. Convenience allows them to supplant much more valuable “real time” conversation. They let us zip messages before investing thought – so, like a toddler’s tools, these may not help us solve a problem. Problems require debate and debate requires conversation, so don’t forget how to “use your words.”

– Kip Caffey, Cary Street Partners