Accessibility is an odd concept. Take a moment and think about it. We all want to give the impression that we’re 100% accessible. Take a look at my signature line for example. Right now it includes the following ways to get in touch with little ol’ me:
- Office phone number
- Email address
- Twitter address
- Facebook address
- Company Twitter account
- Company Facebook address
- Google Chat
- LinkedIn address
- Skype address
I mean really? Am I that important? Even though I’d love to toot my own horn, do you really need nine ways to get in touch with me? Perhaps, I’m scared you may not be able to reach me and heaven forbid I’m eating dinner or something unimportant like that.
Last weekend I was visiting with a friend who just happens to be a digital marketing rock star. I’m lucky, I know! Accordingly, during our conversation, my friend was constantly receiving work related text messages. As it turns out, the messages would have been more appropriately dealt with via work email.
My friend didn’t mind receiving the constant barrage of text messages. In fact, I think they are used to it. Me on the other hand? It annoyed the heck out of me, for them. I mean, how can you focus on life (yes, you do have a life outside of work) when work is pinging you 24/7 in your supposed private platform?
It all depends on the type of person that is trying to reach you. For the most part, people are cordial and respectful of your time and space. But I’m talking about the dreaded
accessibility abusers who don’t care about your “off” time. It’s all about them and their wants, not yours. These people will send you an identical message across all of your networks and platforms until you respond. You’ll think the message is of utmost importance, and this is where you’re wrong. They just wanted to know if you liked the comment they left on your blog.
Personally, I reserve text messages for family, friends and my top level colleagues. If you get a text from me, or if I say “feel free to text me,” you are part of my beloved crew. Should I receive a text message from a pesky accessibility abuser, I don’t respond. Better yet, I wait two days and respond via Twitter direct message. Why do I do this you ask? I want to keep my one personal communication method personal.
It’s important to note that we teach and train people how to contact us. If you complain about how accessible you are think about what you did to contribute to the problem? Do you have nine ways to reach you in your email signature line? Do you respond to work related email at 2:00 a.m.? It’s like having children, don’t pay attention to the negative behavior and remember any attention (even bad attention) is attention. Don’t respond when you are not working. Designate certain “off and away” hours.
How accessible are you? Are you comfortable with it? How do you un-plug?
