in·ter·ac·tion [in-ter-ak-shuhn]
Direct effect one upon another…mutual or reciprocal action or influence…the transfer of energy between particles…communication, synergy, cooperation.
trans·ac·tion [tran-sak-shuhn]
Business agreement, deal, negotiation…the act of obtaining a product or service…transmission or processing of data…a matter to be taken care of
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We devote less than 45 minutes a day to ‘socializing and communicating’ – wherein communication is the end in itself, not simply a means to a desired outcome. In fact, Americans invest more time on grooming than rapport. There is a trend toward text over talk, email over phone and process over people…and this evolution in the manner in which we spend our shrinking time together compounds the effect.
How do you pass your time with others? As you spend your day, you spend your life. My guess is in considering the above definitions – you might agree a shift is taking place. The balance of productive versus present has tipped. It’s a dilemma for all of us as leaders. We spend a great deal of our ‘lead time’ processing and transmitting data, versus ‘transferring energy’ – and at what cost?
Employee engagement gives us discretionary productivity, profit and loyalty, yet we sacrifice this competitive edge in the very name of productivity – as we transact rather than interact. In earlier writings I’ve advocated regularly considering the purpose of your communication moments with others as a way of acting on purpose…of making the most of your limited time with others. The three classifications were ‘to inform’, ‘to persuade’ or ‘to relate’. What I’m finding in working with leaders first-hand is that they find themselves rarely if ever simply relating. The pace of no-normal living has them living at the edge of their headlights, and seeing very little beyond.
What about you – interaction or transaction? Both at work and at home…are your communication moments exclusively dedicated to ‘taking care of business’? Is there any time left over for sharing, disclosure, encouragement or the simple silence it sometimes takes to uncover the hidden themes or feelings that lie beneath ‘business’?
As you lead a day, you lead a life. Take notice. Pay attention to how you lead your life.
