More and more of our communication nowadays is through internet based methods, be it email, websites, a blog or through social media tools like Twitter, LinkedIn or Facebook. The ease of use rules, we make our own choice where and when to read and respond. We have seen new communication channels rise and undoubtedly more will follow.
When I returned a couple of weeks ago from vacation there was the traditional pile of mail on the doormat. Mail from all kind of companies that somehow fail to see the benefit of digital communication. To my regret, after all that pile need to be worked through and I started immediately with a backlog after vacation. Most of the mail could have been delivered in a digital format. Many invoices for instance are still being printed to be delivered. On my side I scan them, pay them and throw them away. What a waist of paper and effort! In the pile of vacation mail was one invitation that clearly purposely was delivered on paper. Then paper adds a dimension, after all a well crafted paper invitation will stay around longer then a digital one. Then you make a not and it will move out of sight quickly. Paper however stays around for a while and one will share it with others.
Last Friday I received a letter, a real letter in a handwritten envelope, addressed to me. Only that element already adds an extra dimension, after all most mail arrives in an envelope where behind a little window the printed name of the addressee can be read. This nice handwriting in the letter asks for attention and creates curiosity. The letter was from a customer confirming a couple of elements of our last conversation. The letter started however with a beautiful word of thanks for the coaching work I recently did with this customer. Nicely written down in words that really touched me en subsequently signed with a real signature. That letter stays around for a while, on the table. Sharing with my spouse later in the day is now also very easy, quite different then jointly reading from a laptop screen!
See the power of a letter, well crafted and taken care of communication on paper will add a dimension that digital will lag for a while. The right balance for the new communication is in the mix: digital where possible and in special cases on paper. And this letter? It will remain for a while on my desk!
