As Millennials give their elders grief about texting and verbal communications, it seems that some have an irrational fear of the telephone. Which is a basic piece of technology that their elders consider to be absolutely necessary for day to day communications.
So if you are a Millennial, the next time you’re about to email or text someone, ask yourself this: Am I avoiding the phone because I don’t want to be told “No”? Am I avoiding the phone because I don’t want to feel rejection? Is this about trepidation?
While we’re at it, here are some more questions to consider:
Am I avoiding the phone because I don’t want to make the other person uncomfortable?
Am I unsure of my own level of commitment to what I want to propose to the other party?
Is it advantageous to have no written record of what we’re about to discuss?
Am I in my 20s and unclear about the nature of this strange piece of equipment on my desk that has numbers and lights on it and what looks to be a “cord” of some sort?
If you answered yes to any of those questions, then call. The telephone allows you to efficiently converse, unlike email or text. More importantly, it forces you to be slightly more committed to your cause. If you have questions about the phone ask an old person, they will be glad to explain it to you.