Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Emoticons in the Business Lexicon

Today, I realized that emoticons have become part of the accepted business lexicon.  Or at least part of the written business communication.  For example, I received four emails, just today, with smileys.  Gone are the days of misinterpreted messages in the office. 
 
In days past, the boss merely yelled at the employee.  The message was clear, maybe a bit blue, but the employee had no mixed messages.  After being yelled at for fifteen minutes, sometimes salted with earthy metaphors, the message was definitely understood.
 
Today, the message is a bit, well, multi-layered.  "Johnson, you screwed up the Kraggstaff account!  :-)" has a bit different tone to it.   Kraggstaff may not be pleased with the work level, but at least it's service with a smile. 
 
All in all, the more conversational, softer communication is for the best.  We should treat each other with grace and kindness - at home, in the marketplace and everywhere in between.  My only request is that, in our quest to find the balance between brutal honesty and political correctness, we don't lose the ability to simply communicate.
 
Until next time!  ;-)

Sunday, November 18, 2007

The Reason for the Season

I've been seeing, again, the debates over what to wish people this time of year. Shoppers are admonished not to visit stores that use "Happy Holidays." We're urged to call merchants to ensure they use the phrase "Merry Christmas."

For me, the issue is deeper than a phrase. I want to ensure that, through the gift-giving, festivities, singing and well-wishing, the reason for the celebrations isn't lost.

I don't think getting angry over the wrong phrase being used is a good example of what Christ came to earth to accomplish. Nor is demanding that unbelieving people act like Christians. It's our job, as believers, to lead others to Christ in ways that He did: through His kindness, through His generosity.

If we're going to reach a lost and dying world, let's do it through overt love and kindness. (By the way, I'm not saying we excuse sin, but people's sin tend to be exposed in light of purity.)

Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas