My husband and I have two senior dogs and plan to go out of town. I contacted a dog-sitting service that specializes in senior dogs. I telephoned the owner and left a message. She called back and we spoke. Thereafter, further information was conveyed by text. We rarely spoke; we mainly texted to set up a date to meet the new sitter and provide dates for our planned trip.

As a senior myself, I have to get used to texting. We certainly did not have cell phones when we were growing up. Indeed, answering machines were a new thing at one point.

As noted in the blog post. “How To Negotiate by Text Message “ by the Pon Staff (May 26, 225), texting “…is becoming a ubiquitous mode of communication in business negotiation.” (Id.)  As the blog notes, while younger generations have taken to texting, we older folks have not.

While texting can connect us to anyone anywhere in the world, like email, it lacks the visual cues – body language, tone of voice, and eye contact – that are present in a face-to-face meeting. And unlike email, a text cannot be bolded, underlined, or italicized, although GIFs or emojis might convey the same emphasis at times. (Id.)  Furthermore, it is much easier to build trust and rapport face-to-face than via GIFs and emojis in a text message. (Id.)

Whether we like it or not, texting is a fact of life. It is also the way many people negotiate. So, how does one use texting to their advantage in negotiations and overcome its disadvantages?

Norm Ebner, a professor at Creighton  University and author of The Negotiator’s Desk Reference, Vol. 2 (DRI Press, 2017), suggests several things. First, if possible, have initial meetings in person or at least by telephone or video conference so that you can begin to build the all-important trust and rapport. (Id.) Then, if your discussions migrate to texting, proofread your messages, avoid taking offense, and give the other person the benefit of the doubt.

While it is easy to multitask and type up a quick message while doing something else, autocorrect and misspellings can be your downfall. This is especially true if you are dictating the text rather than typing it.  Also, ensure it is going to the right person.

Texting allows for much informality and the use of abbreviations (e.g., LOL), emojis, partial sentences, and slang.  Do not be offended by the informality or what you believe is poor and incorrect grammar.  If you are truly upset by it, suggest switching to using a telephone or video conference as a means of communication.  As Professor Ebner notes, “do not infer disrespect, inappropriateness, unprofessional or uncouth behavior” from the text. (Id.)

If there is a long delay between the text messages, do not infer anything sinister from it.  The person may be preoccupied with something else and cannot respond immediately. They may have lost their cell phone connection and so are unable to respond. As Professor Ebner notes, although we have our phones with us most of the time, it does not mean we are accessible. (Id.)

It is a brave new world.  And texting is part of it, even in mediating disputes! I have often used texting during mediations. No doubt,  others have meditated entirely by text. Anything is possible these days.

…. Just something to think about.

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