Kasper Rorsted Says "Just Talk To Me"

Sunday's NY Times has a column in the Business section entitled "Corner Office" by Adam Bryant.

I loved the last one, entitled "No Need to Hit The 'Send' key.  Just Talk to Me."  Bryant has written up his interview with Kasper Rorsted, the CEO of Henkel, a consumer and industrial products company based in Dusseldorf, Germany.  Basically, Rorsted is saying that e-mail just doesn't cut it in terms of effective human interaction. 

 
 

He says e-mail is often disruptive in corporate cultures and cannot replace what he calls "presence."  And he claims never to read an email on which he has been copied.  He says, "When I see on an e-mail ''cc Kasper" I delete it.  I don't read it."  Why not?  He says it would be a waste of his time.  If someone wants to contact him, they can write to him.  People who copy others are often just trying to "cover their back."

Rorsted sounds like a no-nonsense guy running a global business.  Yet he is dependent on the most personal of human connection--face to face conversation--for getting business done most effectively.  In fact last year he just moved his office to the U.S. and traveled around here for six weeks without going home.  This year he is going to do the same in Asia, visiting as many sites, employees and customers as he can.

Not sure what this is doing for his home life, but it sure is an effective way to get down on the ground with the constituencies of people who make your business run.  

Next time you are tempted to write an email to the person two cubicles away from you at the office, resist the temptation.  Get up and walk over there and say what you have to say face to face style.  It will no doubt be more effective and you need the exercise.

Comments

[Mario Vellandi]

Absolutely.
Voice and physical presence is the most personal and carries the highest sensory bandwidth.
I also usually try and think what's the most time-effective medium for a communication.

[Nike Air Max 2009]

God is so good to us. We might sometimes feel that He is not there, but we just have to trust him.. Everything has it's purpose and everything will come at the right time.

[Nike Shox R4 Flywire]

Oh love it so much with the floral pants. Sort of like matching to the point of recklessness, plus there is no such thing as too much floral in my opinion. Also with the pink it looks so fab. I think that pink dress is amazing concidering the price, I even tried to replicate it with neon green fabric, untill I ran out!! (turns out not many places really stock neon green satiny, chiffon) :(.

[Nike Shox R4 Flywire]

Oh love it so much with the floral pants. Sort of like matching to the point of recklessness, plus there is no such thing as too much floral in my opinion. Also with the pink it looks so fab. I think that pink dress is amazing concidering the price, I even tried to replicate it with neon green fabric, untill I ran out!! (turns out not many places really stock neon green satiny, chiffon) :(.

[Nike Air Max 2009]

Have a share in your good articles enjoyably with my friends that provides us much entertaining. By your own superior blog, I guess you perhaps enjoy this Jordan Shoes the same with us.

[Nike Air Max 2009]

Have a share in your good articles enjoyably with my friends that provides us much entertaining. By your own superior blog, I guess you perhaps enjoy this Jordan Shoes the same with us.

[Buy Online Rx]

Think of the low cost of this effort. It costs them--at most--one beverage to get my survey answers. Their real investment will be in the analysis. And, by the way, they've now got my email address so they can communicate again with me.

[gout cure]

It has become normal to them somehow. One part of their jobs.

[Red Wing Work Boots]

I follow you VIA GFC and I love your blog!