I recently I went to a fab talk on Social Media. Wow, what a lot of exciting things to explore!

But as I listened to the discussion turn to how important it is to respond to things immediately and how customers expect an immediate answer, I couldn’t help but think ‘Gosh, what added pressure. Don’t we all have enough to worry about without the fear of trying to get to everyone, all of the time, and immediately?’.

Don’t get me wrong. Social Media is great.  But as I looked at all those listening to the talk and felt the pressure of yet another goal, we should all be doing in our hectic lives, I found myself conflicted. Yes, to replying. Yes, to engaging. Yes, to the joy of being able to ‘speak’ to likeminded people. But immediately?? When we have emails we are trying to reply to, accounts to sort, school runs, carol concerts, meetings, work to juggle? Wow, that’s an extra helping of stress isn’t it? How does that help our mental well-being?

I know everyone is different and often I too find that I’m used to a quick answer. But I also find that when the response is later rather than sooner, I am absolutely fine with that too and so my expectations shifts. It’s oddly calming to have someone slow the pace. In my case I develop a quiet respect for that business. I feel their enthusiasm in the response I get, and in the care they have taken to get to everyone and everything in due time: I recognise the fellow human behind it juggling a multitude of things but doing it with thought for each individual in turn.