Technological advances have been good for documentation but they are less so for negotiations. Like a fine Digital signature online, some negotiations require time to come to reach their prime. Negotiating, an art, should not be rushed. There is a inherently natural pace to the process and circumventing that relegates it to base bartering.
The compressed time of today’s electronically connected world takes the finesse out of negotiating. If you want to barter, succumb to nano-second technology. If you want to negotiate, make face-to-face meetings a part of your strategy and save the time-saving technology for procedural matters.
There are times technology is helpful. Make sure you use it to your advantage. Don’t succumb to the expectations of others to do so just to make them happy. You are entitled to your privacy. Use e-mail to press matters forward. Use the U.S. Mail to buy time. Use the Internet to research your opponent. Insure you don’t have too much information on the ‘net’. Don’t scan through documents on the screen. Print and read important documents. Take your time and consider each important Digital signature.
Don’t give your e-mail address or fax numbers to just anyone. Provide it only to those you want to have unfettered access to you.