The follow up call

The year is 2014. We have developed several technologies that allow us to communicate. Instant messaging and email are just the beginning.

And yet, there are some individuals who persist in following up all communication with an additional communication, particularly with a phone call.

If I had a dollar for every time I received a phone call that started with "I sent you an email but wanted to make sure you had read it," I would request those dollars in coin form and hold them while I punch the caller in the throat.

Here's the deal, people. Just because I haven't answered your email or IM does not mean I didn't receive it. It could be (I know this is surprising to those of you that get six emails a day) that it is currently sitting unread in my pile of 300 as-yet-unread emails in ye olde inbox. The other option is I read it and have not yet formulated a reply. The other option  is that I read it and determined not to reply to you.

Note - none of those options require a phone call. In the first two, I will answer you. In the last, I won't. Your desire to speak to me will not change that fact.

What makes this worse? Usually the people making these calls make them within seconds of sending the electronic communication as if they can't get it through their brain that they are not the number one agenda item to everyone else in the world and if you didn't answer in twenty-four seconds, then something must be wrong with the technology.

And if I don't answer your phone call? You could make it ten times worse by leaving me a voice mail making sure I got your email (here's a hint, perhaps I am just not at my desk at the moment). You're better than that.