Am I the only one to be a tiny bit tired of discussing AI? And, in particular, weary of the ‘catastrophising’ around it?
Of course, we know that it will and is already having an immense impact on us – akin to the invention of the printing press, and we must both understand it and learn to harness it. But it’s not the only game in town.
On the Today programme this week, advertising guru Sir John Heggarty spoke about its effect on his industry. Yes, it’s going to take away some mundane tasks (and that might lead to the disappearance of some jobs) but he also believes that it can’t replicate human ingenuity.
In my training room this week, a PR apprentice gave a presentation on the people she’d met at a networking event. She told of the interesting and fun conversations she’d had, some about TV series they’d loved/hated, holidays they were planning, children, pets. She’d made human connections with people. Something AI can’t do.
On a visit to the Florence Nightingale Museum a while ago (well worth a couple of hours http://www.florence-nightingale.co.uk/?v=79cba1185463) I noticed a small book in a display case of childhood possessions. It was entitled Sunday Evening Conversations for the use of Children by a Mother. It was printed in 1817.
In this 21st century when many people feel that technology is preventing families from communicating with each other any day of the week (see this research by Digital Awareness UK and the Headmasters’ and Headmistresses Conference from as long ago as 2017 and nothing has changed – http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-39666863), the idea of spending Sunday evening conversing with children intrigued me.
So much so that I tracked down an original copy of the book. I have it here in my hand. The question I’m asking myself is – if they valued the art and process of conversation in 1817, why don’t we in 2025? Plus, how much more difficult is it for us in our hybrid working world, to find informal, spontaneous moments to chat? We’re likely getting out of practice.
The school holidays are fast approaching so some people will be spending more time with their little darlings. Maybe this summer we should prioritise the thing AI can’t do better than us, at home and in the workplace. Here are a few tips to help sharpen up our skills…..
- Choose the right time to communicate. See Steve Peters’ The Chimp Paradox for more about the square of communication. Don’t try to talk to mum as she’s leaving the house to go to work; don’t cross examine the children as they walk in from school; avoid negotiating a pay rise with your boss over the coffee machine.
- Listen (rather than waiting to speak) and don’t interrupt. Many adults lack confidence in communication because they’ve been undermined by colleagues, bosses, clients. They speak too quickly because they are expecting to be interrupted. Often this has started in childhood with parents and siblings who don’t let them finish a sentence.
- The importance of small talk. Sociolinguist Deborah Tannen distinguishes between ‘rapport talk’ – sharing non-work-related information, and ‘report talk’ – business, instructions. In many families and companies alike, people dispense with the former and get straight down to the latter: “…..have you ordered that dishwasher part? Who’s taking Susan to her sky diving masterclass tomorrow…….., have you finished the document” – thereby missing the opportunity to build and consolidate relationships.
So perhaps what’s needed in this 21st century is not a manual for Sunday evening conversations with our children but a communication guide for everyone. I wonder if it’ll be available as an app???????????
