As I sit here with 3 farting dogs, I’m shaking my head…
I’m sitting in on a 9 am staff meeting by a top 1% Advisor. Generally a sharp group of staff. They’re on a teleconference – I personally hate that. If you can’t do Face-To-Face – Zoom’s become a pretty close second. On a group call by phone, it’s really hard to tell who’s there and who’s not. Who’s paying attention and who’s tuned out. You skip the talking to people who aren’t there and you’re able (mostly) able to pick up on body language.
But, anyway over the past year’s as an “Early Adopter” my team’s become “Zoom” experts, and I rarely do phone calls anymore if it’s important I shift most all FROM Email, Text, and Phone to Zoom (or, in person.)
Enough of that rant.
I’m sitting here in my home office. I have a Golden Retriever, Black Lab, and Yellow Lab all sound asleep in dog beds behind my desk – just out of “zoom” view. It’s one of the benefits of a home office, other than the smell that’s overwhelmed the various air cleaners around the room.
I’m listening to a conversation about client communication.
Very sharp staffer says something to the effect of I emailed her last Wednesday. Haven’t heard back (5 days ago.) I was afraid she might think it’s too complicated and get cold feet. There’s 6 others in her office that I’m hoping for us to get going with us as well. The owner says: have you talked to her on the phone? Answer, no.
Well, back to my conversation about Zoom.
Advisors generally are WAY too dependent upon email and, in many (most) cases haven’t picked up on how much communications have changed.
Personally, I try not to use email. When I do it’s to schedule a time to talk (Zoom or In-Person, if possible.). If that doesn’t work then by phone. “Asynchronous” communications often doesn’t accomplish “communication.”
Now, I know you’re stuck with E-Signing Documents and sharing updates, etc by email with no good choices. When using email for any of those purposes, I’ll always text the client to let them know that the email is in their in-box. Otherwise it gets lost – ignored, into spam or wherever.
