I’m a bit of a geek about the history of communication, so in this post, I want to show how two old communication tools ran into the same problem as our modern communication tools.
If you’re a fellow connoisseur of the history of communication, I this post is for you…
The electric telegraph and the telephone made it easier to communicate.
Both were extolled for their ease of use and incredible possibilities.
Both were thought to connect the world in such a way that peace would be inevitable.
But that, of course, didn’t happen.
Conflicts still happened, even with the new technology.
Technology (no matter if it’s the telephone, electric telegraph, or an AI tool) doesn’t address the problem causing most communication challenges: Truly connecting with another person.
That can happen using technology, but it requires humans.
And to connect with others, you must practice. You must try and fail until you learn what works for you, because every person (and business) is unique.
So, while there are certain communicative norms that we all must follow to effectively relate to others, the intricacies of connection are going to depend on the individuals involved in the conversation.
In other words, when it comes to how you communicate, what works for thee may not work for me (and vice versa).
In the age of AI, don’t expect the latest tools to be a cure-all for gaps in your ability to relate to your prospects, partners, and clients.
Use AI as a tool, but if you want to truly connect with others, don’t use it as a replacement for you.
Put in the hard, uncomfortable work of meeting with others face-to-face and creating content that may or may not hit the mark.
Then iterate until you figure out what works for you, so that you can establish connections as only you can.