Does digitalization replace communication?

Faster, shorter, and more direct, information is bombarding us. There is a veritable overstimulation of our senses taking place. Our brains are already responding with headaches and showing clear signs of the hippocampus (brainstem) being overwhelmed. In order to reach customers, the advertising industry is attempting to outdo itself every second with louder and more sensational messages. Will these 24-hour information bombs replace the human factor and spoken word (rhetoric) in the future? From neuroscience, it is known that our hippocampus prepares for a counterattack for survival reasons. It simply filters out information that is too sensational, too loud, and too colorful. The hippocampus effectively protects itself from overload and places more emphasis on simple messages and information. Subject lines in emails that are too sensational are usually deleted and filtered out immediately by us. Voices that are too loud are simply tuned out. In a jungle of loud music, mass mailings, and advertising, we perceive every aggressive message more as a threat. We are increasingly longing for vacations or quiet oases of relaxation. Due to digitalization, moments of peace are becoming increasingly rare. Whether it's the digitized toothbrush that gives us feedback on brushing time, pressure, and optimal circular massage, or the Dash button on the dishwasher that automatically reminds us to order the next batch of cleaning tabs. There is no escaping a digitized everyday life. The human factor will become the bridge of trust. The human as a bridge of trust will be irreplaceable in the future. Quiet fireside chats will be more of an exception. Only with "language of trust" will we break through the protective wall of the hippocampus to reach our customers. Simple language without artificial jargon will be heard in the future. Loud, sensational tones and technical terms perceived as threatening by the hippocampus will shut us out. How does this "language of trust" work? Forced by the mass of advertising messages, our hippocampus is modifying itself daily. We must switch to simple language and immediately stop the "combat rhetoric." "Effective language" that does not further alarm the overstimulated hippocampus, but rather calms it down. Effective language resembles a "confidential conciseness" and will secure the attention of our conversation partners in the future. Avoiding linguistic and written possibilities. The hippocampus distinguishes between saying: "I would like to suggest a meeting to you." or "I suggest a meeting to you." As well as: "I would be very happy to meet." or "I am very happy to meet." Words of possibility like: "would like to, would, could, etc." are perceived by the hippocampus as appeasement. A message with a maximum of 50% effectiveness! Through possibility words, we dilute our effectiveness and give away more than 50% certainty. Trust is lost, and doubt in our messages increases. Whenever you catch yourself appeasing with possibility words, you now know that you are not being perceived. For example, in the financial industry, also avoid words like: flexible, dynamic, and innovative. These words signal distrust, as they have already been negatively connotated too often. You may now claim that no one can recognize such small differences in rhetoric. I can assure you that you are greatly underestimating the hippocampus and our unconscious behavior. Short and to-the-point messages. The longer your spoken or written sentences are, the harder they are for the hippocampus to process. The average European disconnects from sentences over 16 words. According to neuroscience, only individuals with an IQ above 120 can process longer sentences, allowing them to move from short-term memory to processing memory (action impulse). (Did you just notice that the last sentence was too long?) When you use too long sentences, your interlocutor/customer switches to waiting mode for protection. The message does not reach the brain's action zone. The customer waits for the next short and processable sentence. With too long spoken and written sentences, you block your customer's action zone. If you wonder why your customer is still "thinking" with too long sentences, do not be surprised. You do not directly bite off a piece of steak but cut it into small, bite-sized pieces. This is how our brain's processing area works too. Anything too long is "blocked" by the hippocampus and does not reach the brain's "decision-making area." Start by limiting your written sentences to a maximum of 16 words. Your verbal mode will follow with a time delay. Practice activity questions. Activity questions are questions that cannot be answered with a simple "yes" or "no." They are open questions. Just five years ago, closed questions were preferred. Rhetoric was so extremely concise that the customer had no choice. The digital form of communication "Only today!", "Only 2 left!", "Valid for only 8 hours!" etc. is seen as a deterrent in modern communication. We know that we can allow customers time to make decisions. We also know through neuroscience that we can activate customers to speak. They may contribute themselves, emphasize their importance. This form of communication grants us open doors of trust with our customers. Therefore, in the future, schedule more time for conversations with people. Following the motto: It is better to convey trust and security to one customer than to advise three customers half-heartedly. A simple but activating question to start a conversation could be: "What are your personal expectations for today's meeting?" The answer will give you more insight than any other form of small talk. Have the courage - with this simple activity question, I have generated countless closures. Repeat what you heard! This simple technique has several advantages. Firstly, your conversation partner will realize that you understand them. In a world where we are bombarded with messages and information every minute, you immediately radiate trust and security. You train yourself in listening and storing information. The pulse rate of your conversation partners will automatically decrease. Respect towards you and your words will noticeably increase. Your conversation partners will automatically feel comfortable in your environment. It could look like this: "So you mean that (+ statement of the conversation partner)?" "You think that...", "So for you, this means...?" You will quickly notice that the conversation climate becomes CALM and FAMILIAR with this technique. People will suddenly take time for you and listen attentively. Often, feedback will come, such as: "It's nice that we understand each other so well." Or: "I notice that I can talk to you about anything." I assure you, these people will warmly recommend you. Conclusion: The human as a language and trust bridge to digitalization will become more important. Every day that we are aware of this and practice linguistic hygiene will make us irreplaceable. Pay attention to your words in speech and writing. Not too sensational, not too loud, and not too exaggeratedly colorful!