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O P I N I O N
Tech rewind
N o doubt you have been in meetings and looked around the room and noticed multiple people with their heads down, staring at their smartphones instead of actively participating. There was a time when this would have been considered just plain rude, but now we take it as a cultural norm. Being relevant can be powerful, but it will require you to put down your devices and actively engage with those around you.
may not work for a weathered West Texas rancher who conducts all business based on a handshake. Being relevant requires being aware of these cultural, social, and professional differences, and focusing on what matters most by being willing to embrace those differences. It requires you to be a bit of a chameleon as you need to adapt to your surroundings. The only way to successfully do that is to be focused on the moment and the people. retention when the world is swirling with digital communications that everyone deems more important? In short, how can you stay relevant?” “How can you assure client interaction, satisfaction, and
Stephen Lucy
Statistics indicate that the current average daily usage of smartphones exceeds five hours and that number is only increasing. Of that time, less than 25 percent is related to phone calls and that number is decreasing. And before we blame all this on the millennials, the numbers are not radically different when you consider age. We are increasingly separating ourselves physically from our clients and relying on non-verbal means to communicate with our clients. What can possibly go wrong? So how can you assure client interaction, satisfaction, and retention when the world is swirling with digital communications that everyone deems more important? In short, how can you stay relevant? ❚ ❚ Recognize demographic and cultural differ- ences. Just like one size does not fit all, you should recognize that the approach to gain and maintain relevance with your clients will vary. What works for a jaded 20-something urbanite who talks in legalese
See STEPHEN LUCY, page 10
THE ZWEIG LETTER January 21, 2019, ISSUE 1280
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