Most people are terrible typists.
Typing is a learned skill. No one is born knowing how to manipulate a keyboard with ten fingers and the speed of machine-gun firing. For many, many people, typing out an email can be an overwhelmingly difficult, monumental, and time-consuming task. They just can’t do it – and that’s okay. But that means these people need another way to communicate.
Typing is also still considered a skill reserved for women. My mother remembers a previous job well, where the rooms were full of women that hammered away at clunky machines. Typing was a secretary’s job – and secretaries weren’t men back then.
Computers launched typing back into the limelight. But we’re only just adapting to the common household containing computers. Seriously. How many people had PCs at home back in the 80s? (Not too damned many, in case you’re wondering.)
Schools aren’t teaching typing as a required life skill. (I have no idea why; this makes no sense to me.) Business people generally don’t sign up for remedial typing 101. (They feel silly going back to school.) Most middle-aged and older men never learned to type. (“Isn’t typing for women?”)
That’s a lot of people who can’t communicate well via email. Here’s a fast fact: The average computer user’s typing speed for composition is 19 words per minute. (What’s your speed for transcription?)
All my clients who prefer phone calls over email are over 30 and male. They hate to type, and they prefer conversations. They are also smack in the prime of their business life and ready to rock n’ rock their way to online entrepreneur success.
Cut them out as clients because I won’t take their call? No way.
I think that lots of freelance writers like to hide behind their keyboards while doing business, but they don’t always know how much it’s hurting them. Personally, I let the client choose their preferred method of communication. Lots of times email is just “easier”, but in my opinion phone calls build a closer bond.
I’d much rather communicate in e-mail. I write far better than I speak. I think my brain moves so fast and in so many directions at once, that it’s just easier for me to be clear-headed when I’m typing. Must have something to do with keeping the hands busy and the mind focused. However, I would never refuse a client’s request for a phone call. Perhaps I should take up doodling.
Now I have to go chase 1,000 thoughts and a billion ideas. A writer’s work is never done, eh?
@Chad: *glances up guiltily* Who’s hiding? Not me…no sir…not at all…Okay, maybe a little. Then again, I’m not the face of the business like James is. I’ve never enjoyed being on the front lines, and like Melissa, I respond better when I have time to carefully consider my answers.
My main reason for avoiding phone calls is a remnant of my days working in an office. All too often the salesmen would prefer to call in the details of a project and give them verbally. Many (but not all) were less than honest, and when something went wrong they’d fall back on the old “I never said that”. Paper trails were very important and having a detailed email with everything in it saved my butt a few times. If clients do want to use the phone, I always request a summary email of what they want done.
@Melissa: Doodling isn’t any easier, trust me
That hits a few nerves..
First, I never learned to type, but I can manage 30-35 WPM with one finger, so it doesn’t bother me very much. Except sometimes that finger hurts
But – I do have clients that don’t like to use email, and I never thought about that as a possible explanation. Like you, I don’t mind their calls: people sometimes say “Doesn’t that phone drive you crazy?” and I reply, “Nope: sounds like a cash register to me..”
I fought against the typing class in high school that my parents insisted I take–maybe because it felt like it was too “secretarial”?–but I’ve been grateful for years that I did. That, and the learn-to-type computer program I bought in 1988 when I wanted to go into publishing and was told I’d need to type at least 55 wpm to qualify. It’s not the career path I took, but the typing skills certainly have come in handy.
And, seriously, why DON’T they teach typing in school??
@Deb: Typing was something I couldn’t avoid even if I wanted to. Mom was an executive secretary and she told me, “Harry, learn how to type, you never know when you might need it to fall back on.” So, I learned and wasn’t very good at it. My brain knew where all the keys were, but I lacked the dexterity to find them quickly enough. It wasn’t until years later when I had to apply to temp agencies that I made a serious effort to increase my WPM. I have no clue what I’m up to now.
And life is so much easier without those clunky old typewriters. I can’t tell you how many times my fingers got caught between the keys.
@Anthony … 35wpm with one finger??? WOW!
I clock about 75 to 80 wpm when I’m relaxed, and 60 wpm when I’m stressed.
I actually loved typing class. Felt like an ass sitting there with the girls, but if there’s one thing that hooks me, it’s a challenge. Damned if I was going to let that typewriter win, and my goal was always beating my last best score.
And since I’m a social kind of guy, I like the phone, too. (I’m the schmoozer of the business for a reason.) Can’t say I like not having a paper trail, but that’s easily rectified with a follow-up summary of the call via email.
I also can’t stand how many people have forgotten phone courtesy, but that’s an upcoming post
@ Anthony – My teen can beat my typing speed doing the two-fingered hunt and peck. It’s crazy to watch her.
@ Deb – I have no friggin’ clue why they don’t teach typing. It’s the most stupid thing, considering how many people will use a keyboard in their lives these days.
@James: That’s crazy. I can’t sit and watch anyone hunt and peck like that. Makes me want to rip the keyboard away and scream “No! Do it *this* way! Please! Stop it!”
But that’s just me.
@harry
I bet James daughter has the same problem I do: I’ve tried to learn “real” typing, but because it is soooo slow at first, I fall back to the one finger.. because it’s fast enough for me..
and usually faster than I can think anyway
@ Anthony – I’ve offered lessons, I’ve tried to teach, I’ve asked why she continues…
“Dad.” I get a look only teens can give, one of absolute don’t-tell-me-anything-because-I’m-way-smarter-than-you-buddy. “I don’t want to learn. This works. This is fast. In fact, this is faster than you – I can kick your ass on the keyboard any day.” Then she arches an eyebrow. “Want to race?”
*sigh* I am so not going there.
@Anthony: Definitely. It’s a habit and takes practice to get it right. When I first started typing on a regular basis I was pretty slow too, now I can literally do it blindfolded – which brings me to the second bad habit, watching the keys as you type. If you’re going from H&P to both hands, train yourself right off the bat not to look at the keyboard.
@James: And I bet you raced her, didn’t you?
I think they teach typing here, called ‘keyboarding,’ but same thing….I’ve always been a fast typist, and like Melissa prefer e-mail, but will do the phone call if necessary. I do like to summarize what I understand from the phone call via e-mail. It acts as a check, to be sure I understood, and as a paper trail.
I’m not sure what my current typing speed is. Last time I checked it was around 50 WPM.
I was fortunate, in that by the time I was learning to type, being a computer geek had become cool, which made me much more inclined to actually work at it when my parents bought Mavis Beacon 3.
It’s horrible watching someone who doesn’t know how to type stare at a keyboard looking for the right key. *shudders*
I managed 49 wpm for copy typing, though when I learned to touch type I used to do 70. I think the truth lies somewhere in between. It’s easier to type fast when I don’t have to copy someone else’s stuff.
@ Sharon – I find it faster not to transcribe as well, but apparently it’s slower when doing creative typing.
@ Joshua – Two-handed, ten-fingered typing is very, very cool. Yes. We are cool people.
@ Christie – Very smart of you to summarize phone calls and I use that trick myself. Talkers tend to skip around on subjects and an email summary keeps everyone on track with written proof of the conversation.
@ Harry – Actually, for once, I did not. I would’ve had there been money involved