The Value of Old School
In today’s world of business, the need for continuous improvement and evolution has become an absolute necessity to stay current and competitive. Every day we see new technology being developed and released to the masses that provide the potential to level up your business; applications, APIs, workflow solutions, pipeline extensions, networking platforms…the list is endless and continuous.
The dawn of the digital age forever changed the way we conduct business, top to bottom, on a global scale. Today, you could walk into any business, in any sector, and find it almost impossible to not see at least one computer, laptop, or tablet within the first 5 feet of the entrance. Yet, you would be hard-pressed to locate a single legal pad, piece of scratch paper, or ledger. In today’s view, if you were to request a copy of a document, you will most likely receive it via email. Should you request them to fax or direct mail it to you instead, you may receive a few confused looks your way.
Just like any other person that understands the big picture of business, I am a huge fan of the major advances that have been released in so many years. And, honestly, anyone who says otherwise is probably on their way to closing up shop, because they are unable to match their competitors’ productivity and efficiency levels. The capability to establish a foundation, provide consistency to all, and drive automation are the three pillars of business. These pillars were barely a shell of the potential they embody today before all of the digital solutions we now have available. For, the more our tools improve, the more our core business can improve.
There is one glaring drawback to all of this change in the way we conduct business. Not every company will experience it, but those that do will have to manage the fall-out. The drawback is the loss of the human component of the business. This drawback is usually most prevalent during periods of hyper-growth and/or over-automation. With the endless supply of digital tools at our disposal, it can be incredibly tempting to bring them all onboard. It can also be tempting to ignore healthy forecasting and production practices to drastically increase revenue streams and/or profit margins before your business is ready to support such growth. Businesses are most successful when their human component is strong and prominent throughout the company.
To some people, honoring a strong human component in business is considered “old school”. Why have a human customer service agent, when you can have a bot? Why send personalized messages, when you could just mass-market? Why call to wish someone a happy birthday, when you could just write “HBD” on their Facebook wall? The answer to all of these questions is the same: because human connection is the cornerstone of our society. When it comes to the aspects of business that connect us, staying old school with the human component is a must.
The value of old school methods can be summed up with one simple representation, the handshake. Dating back to the 5th century B.C. in Greece, the handshake is an ingrained piece of our global societal culture. Throughout the ages and adaptations, the handshake has represented one concrete gesture: the initiation of trust between two people. There have been additional adaptations over the years. The handshake originated as a diplomatic greeting in the Romanian era. They adopted a variation of the handshake, by embracing the forearm instead of the hand, to check for potential weapons hidden up the other person’s sleeve. Other cultures have adapted the intention to trust into a different delivery, such as touching shoulders or heads, or even bowing to one another. In more recent years, athletes adapted their own delivery in the form of a fist bump.
Regardless of the adaptations or delivery methods, one fundamental truth remains constant: the initiation of trust between two people. The handshake represents the value of old school in business by definition; it requires the human component. The value of the connection attained through a handshake cannot be replicated or automated. It is pure by nature, thereby maintaining its integrity. Other old school methods of business include the exchange of business cards, mailing personalized letters, and direct communication with people. All of these practices, and more, are embodied by the human component.
Business industries, and the technologies that support them, will continue to revolutionize, adapt, and expand. One constant you can take to the bank is keeping it old school.
When you’re ready to take the next step, we’re here for you.
