I’m so lucky that just about all the feedback I get about my blog posts is at best positive and at worst constructive. But every now and then, I’ll get a reply that makes it clear my posts and this particular reader are just not a good match. I usually send a short reply expressing that I appreciate them reading, that I’m sorry the message didn’t resonate, and that my blog probably isn’t for them.
And more than once, I’ve had one of those readers respond back with something to the effect of, “I wasn’t expecting to hear from a real person!” I always smile at that sentiment. Who (or what) exactly did they think was writing these blogs? Of course it’s a real person. My name and photo are right there on the front page.
Even in the increasing age of technology, and as difficult as some companies may make it to find one, plenty of communication still involves a human being. Someone is at the other end of that email, that phone call, that outreach of any kind. And it helps to remember that this someone is, in fact, a real person.
Whether you’re a college sending out admissions decisions, a student contacting an admissions office, or a parent reaching out to a teacher (which we should encourage our kids to do on their own), don’t just fire off your request or complaint. Remember that there’s a real person on the other side. Treating them that way makes it more likely you’ll beget the same treatment in return.