One of my new favorite things to do is send videos. I’m not talking about the funny videos I see on Instagram and send to my kids. I’m talking about a video of myself. And again, no, I have not suddenly turned into a YouTuber.
Instead of leaving a voicemail or writing a text, I will take a video of myself talking and send it to a loved one, friend, or colleague. For me, this has been a meaningful and personal way to leverage technology.
The recipient of my video sees my facial expressions while hearing my voice, and, I believe, overall feels a deeper connection. It takes a moment of extra effort but shows whoever receives the video, that they were worth the extra 30 seconds to create a video instead of another way of reaching out.
Over the past few months, I’ve tried this approach in various scenarios, and I have a few main takeaways.
Thoughtfulness
I find myself consciously thinking through exactly what I want to communicate before I record a video. Not that a phone call or text doesn’t have the same effect, but I find this practice takes it to the next level. It is a fantastic exercise to gather your thoughts and focus on the message you want to deliver for a few minutes.
Personal
It is easy to revert to autopilot when responding to texts and emails. Sending a video of myself removes this possibility entirely. I find my messages to have a unique level of personal touch when I share a video message instead of a typed one.
Efficiency
Time is precious, and we all know there are limited hours in the day. Before large group meetings, I’ll request everyone send an update via video before the meeting. That way, during the time we are together, we can focus on the task at hand.
The Bottom Line
I encourage you to take a few minutes and send someone a video today. It doesn’t have to be long or fancy. If you try it out, comment your thoughts about sending video messages.
