I've also had this in a slightly different scenario recently, when asking building contractors to price up projects for clients. Building Contractors come out and meet with the clients and myself, say they are interested in the project and then totally ghost me. I have no idea why. It is disrepectful and also a waste of everyone's time and energy. It also reflects badly on me as well. If you are not interested or have changed your mind this is fine but all it takes is a quick conversation to let me and everyone else know, so we know where we stand and can then look at other options...
In my view ghosting is just a reflection of how technology contributes to poor communication. It's so much easier to text, email, etc, instead of meeting in person. Zoom doesn't count either--you can present a version of yourself that isn't true. Why would you go to work for anyone you couldn't meet in person, and vice versa, why should they hire you or date you? Make more of an effort, and your results will be better.
As I see at the core is a fallen humanity issue which leads to character flaw and unethical behavior . Nothing but regeneration can set right moral standards , virtues and values .
Robert, I enjoy your FF, but this one resonates more than the last few. I love the sentence, "At the heart of every interaction is an opportunity to demonstrate respect, integrity, and decency." I am saving this FF and appreciate that you addressed the issue.
Thank you Robert for so eloquently describing such a frustrating behavior. Not only is there ghosting between employer and employee, I have found that throughout a sales process, I have had numerous meetings with the various stakeholders, we discuss next steps, move into contracting and then nothing. Silence. After weeks and weeks of no replies, it's beyond frustrating. If your leadership has changed direction, just tell me. If you are now faced with other priorities and have to put this on the back burner, again, just tell me. It doesn't say much about the future relationship or partnership.
Like you, I always reply to cold outreach emails to let the sender know we are not interested so they don't waste their time. More often than not, I get a Thank you for letting me know reply. I know how it feels to endlessly try to connect with someone so I try to be respectful but honest.
Amen to that. I've recruited for years and I always call the candidates that were not chosen to let them know I appreciated meeting with them. If I invite them into my house, they deserve a response whether good or not so good. It's all about respect.
Hi Bob! Thank you for this article. I appreciate the content, and would like to add that, in my opinion, stepping away from a connection due to unresolved conflict and feeling abused isn’t the same as ghosting. Not posting or interacting much due to health & healing is also not ghosting. What do you think?
Agree, that is entirely different. There should not be much unresovled conflcit or abuse in the process of interviewing for a job or doing the interviewing.
That’s pretty bad for any company to do. If the candidate has made the effort to turn up and prep for an interview then the company has an obligation to respond
I've also had this in a slightly different scenario recently, when asking building contractors to price up projects for clients. Building Contractors come out and meet with the clients and myself, say they are interested in the project and then totally ghost me. I have no idea why. It is disrepectful and also a waste of everyone's time and energy. It also reflects badly on me as well. If you are not interested or have changed your mind this is fine but all it takes is a quick conversation to let me and everyone else know, so we know where we stand and can then look at other options...
Yeah, it's really not that hard to just reply and say they can't do it.
In my view ghosting is just a reflection of how technology contributes to poor communication. It's so much easier to text, email, etc, instead of meeting in person. Zoom doesn't count either--you can present a version of yourself that isn't true. Why would you go to work for anyone you couldn't meet in person, and vice versa, why should they hire you or date you? Make more of an effort, and your results will be better.
As I see at the core is a fallen humanity issue which leads to character flaw and unethical behavior . Nothing but regeneration can set right moral standards , virtues and values .
Robert, I enjoy your FF, but this one resonates more than the last few. I love the sentence, "At the heart of every interaction is an opportunity to demonstrate respect, integrity, and decency." I am saving this FF and appreciate that you addressed the issue.
I really enjoyed this. We are all humans uncomfortable conversations are part of being human. Learning to have them goes a long way.
Thank you Robert for so eloquently describing such a frustrating behavior. Not only is there ghosting between employer and employee, I have found that throughout a sales process, I have had numerous meetings with the various stakeholders, we discuss next steps, move into contracting and then nothing. Silence. After weeks and weeks of no replies, it's beyond frustrating. If your leadership has changed direction, just tell me. If you are now faced with other priorities and have to put this on the back burner, again, just tell me. It doesn't say much about the future relationship or partnership.
Like you, I always reply to cold outreach emails to let the sender know we are not interested so they don't waste their time. More often than not, I get a Thank you for letting me know reply. I know how it feels to endlessly try to connect with someone so I try to be respectful but honest.
Happy Friday!
Amen to that. I've recruited for years and I always call the candidates that were not chosen to let them know I appreciated meeting with them. If I invite them into my house, they deserve a response whether good or not so good. It's all about respect.
As usual Robert delivers us a powerful positive impact message.
Hi Bob! Thank you for this article. I appreciate the content, and would like to add that, in my opinion, stepping away from a connection due to unresolved conflict and feeling abused isn’t the same as ghosting. Not posting or interacting much due to health & healing is also not ghosting. What do you think?
Agree, that is entirely different. There should not be much unresovled conflcit or abuse in the process of interviewing for a job or doing the interviewing.
That’s pretty bad for any company to do. If the candidate has made the effort to turn up and prep for an interview then the company has an obligation to respond
And what about the inverse?
Absolutely. It’s down to respect of both parties time. It’s just politeness and kindness. It costs nothing