A recent guest on the HR Happy Hour show sent me a note after the show expressing concern that they had perhaps dominated the conversation and was worried that I may have been somehow offended or disappointed.
I was neither offended nor disappointed.
Tourist photo , NYC, 1950's
The show is all about providing a forum or platform for interesting and smart people to share their opinions, insights, and expertise. I don't need to say much of anything to have a good show. In fact, I think at times, the less I have to say the better.
That advice I think holds true for many other relationships as well, be they 'real' or virtual or with software programs and their users. Hurry up and finish talking so I can say what I really think. Let me tell you what I have been up to. Sure, we have that feature. We have every feature.
It holds true for the design of the systems that we use in our workplaces and in our spare time. Software companies often feel compelled to include every feature that customers request, or that they have seen a competitor tout as 'new and improved'.
We don't always have to fill up all the space with words, content, opinions, comments, buttons, and features.
Sometimes it is perfectly acceptable to not have all that much to say, and let some negative, or empty space in.
Is it obvious that I spent the holiday weekend goofing off, and did not come up with anything interesting to write today?