July 8, 2009

Power of the Pen...I’ve been reading Letters from Africa 1914-1931 by Isak Dinesen, which became the basis of the movie Out of Africa. This collection of thousands of letters between Baroness Karen Blixen and her family got me to thinking about the power of written correspondence. Most notably, these letters were saved – and saved long before anyone knew that Blixen, writing under her Dinesen pen name, would become an international success. They were kept and treasured for what they were – the chronicle of a life.

It seems that with today’s instant communication – email, IMs, Twitter, Facebook, cell phones – we have lost the richness of personal interaction. We are actually growing further apart, not closer. No waiting eagerly for days (or in Blixen’s case, months) for a response. No holding the sheet of paper in one’s hands that the author once held. No way to carefully place these missives in a box or bind together with a ribbon for a second, third, or fourth reading later.

While I’m speaking primarily of personal communication, many, including Lydia Ramsey, a business etiquette expert, are now writing and blogging about the handwritten note as a powerful business tool. As Ms. Ramsey remarks, “Handwritten notes have become almost extinct in the business world. So if you are looking for ways to stand out from the crowd, to be noticed by your colleagues and clients, try putting pen to paper whenever you have the slightest excuse.”

As the recipient of a note, one has the chance to save and savor the message. Positive comments from a phone conversation just don’t carry the same weight or recall. 

Ramsey suggests numerous occasions to get noticed with a note.

• You have received a gift

• You were a guest in someone's home

• You were treated to a meal

• You received a business favor

• You are replying to an invitation

• You are sending condolences

• You want to offer congratulations

• You need to apologize

I would add, “after a job interview, to praise an employee’s extra efforts, after meeting someone new at a networking event…” The list is endless.

When’s the last time you put pen to paper?

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