Does Web 2.0 dilute the power of interpersonal communication?
November 1, 2008 · Print This Article
Web 2.0 has become part of my way of communicating with friends, clients, prospective clients, and others interested in what I have to say. It is no surprise that Keith Rosen’s article caught my attention. “When Technology Disconnects Us: How Sales 2.0/Web 2.0 Is Diluting The Power of Interpersonal Communication” was published in Sales Xchange, a newsletter of the Canadian Professional Sales Association.
The article suggests that Web 2.0 activities are having a negative impact on our relationship with clients, potential clients, and managers. (I will take that to also include colleagues.) Rosen stated, “it’s diluting our ability to connect powerfully on a deeper level, the level that long term relationships are fostered.” Contrast this with the view that Web 2.0 brings us closer together for a stronger relationship. I just watched a talk given by Mena Trott, described as “the founding mother of the blog revolution,“ titled “How blogs are building a friendlier world.” The page hosting the talk indicates, “she realized that giving regular people the power to share our lives online is the key to building a friendlier, more connected world.”
If we consider that people often like to do business with those they like and trust, it seems to make sense that getting to know a lot of people through Web 2.0 activities may lead to a stronger business relationship down the road. The face-to-face touch, such as with personal meetings, Meetups and Tweetups, does help, but a lot of the communication takes place virtually. Having taught and studied online, I can also attest to the powerful online communities that can be developed.
I would like to have seen more discussion of the Web 2.0 and Sales 2.0 activities to which he refers. Further, I do not question the validity of the personal meetings. However, as a consumer, how do you feel about successful Web 2.0 activities leading you to future business relationships?
**This message is an expression of the author’s personal opinions. The companies represented by Antony (Tony) Ratcliffe of Ratcliffe Wealth & Risk Management, as an independent insurance agent/broker in Alberta, Canada, will not be held liable in any way for the opinions expressed herein.
I don’t think it dilutes interpersonal relationships so long as you make sure to maintain them.
The Web is no substitute for meeting people, but the advantage is that it allows you to build relationships across distances that would preclude any face to face meeting on a regular basis, if ever.
I enjoy spending time on Twitter and chatting with my friends there. I wish I could meet them all and see them on a regular basis.
That’s part of the reason I enjoy things like DemoCamp and Tweetups so much. I wouldn’t mind a weekly Tweetup.
While I started using Twitter for business purposes, I find it’s more about the real, important aspect of social media, and that’s the relationship. I enjoy my conversations with people on here. If I manage to form business relationships, that’s great, but it’s not my primary goal.
I agree with Alain. I think people generally have a desire to feel connected to other people, and so we form relationships. Web 2.0 helps us maintain and strengthen those relationships when we can’t do it face-to-face.