How often do you pick up the phone at work? You may be shy, short on time, or apprehensive about what you might encounter on the other end of the line. But, more often than not, that fear could lead to missed opportunity.

That, and more, in today’s Lunchtime Links:

Dial and listen: Technology may have advanced, but that doesn’t mean person-to-person communication has kept up. Using all our electronic tools, we can get lost in a sea of misinterpretations and angry emails. In reality, it’s not just about communicating, it’s about connecting with someone. Nonprofit expert and social entrepreneur Dan Pallotta reminds you in Harvard Business Review why the old-fashioned phone call is more important than ever. “The overuse of email as an alternative to a call creates emotional distance. In advertising, it is said that the medium is the message. In this case, the medium is email and the message is ‘I don’t actually want to talk to you,'” he explains. “There is an unintended lack of civility, humanity, and friendliness to it all.”

Language behind digital disruption: How disruptive can digital disruption be? Lauren Mulherrin, project coordinator for bXb Online, argues that digital disruption should actually be called “digital progress,” since online extension is more of an advancement, an opportunity for organizations to go forward. Being in the industry, she’s seen more professionals choose face-to-face meetings than online communication. “Individuals are now attending face-to-face events they wouldn’t have, had they not experienced the online extension,” she writes.

Going local: When it comes to planning local events, why not reach out to local businesses for support? They may be receptive to the idea of a donation or sponsorship because the see it as an opportunity to do some campaigning for themselves. EventChecklist‘s post “10 Tips to Reaching Out to Local Businesses for Your Event” has some helpful pointers on how to connect with and embrace these businesses. How have you involved local businesses in your events?

What links are you sharing today? Let us know in the comment section below.

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