My kids just started school again, and that means the incessant calls will start coming as well. Our schools have implemented a “one call” solution to contact parents. Somehow, without my permission, I ended up on the list. It’s very ironic that it’s branded “one call,” because it ends up being many, many calls.
In theory, this solution could be very beneficial. In case of an emergency or a significant event, it would be great to get an automated message from the school district letting me know what’s happening. Unfortunately, that’s not how the solution is used.
Instead, it’s not unusual to get one or more calls every evening from the different schools my kids attend. Those calls do include some important information, but, more often times than not, they also include details that don’t concern me or my kids. I’m interrupted in the evening by empty messages.
It’s a great reminder that less is more when it comes to priority communications. If you communicate everything all the time, people will start to tune out. They’ll unsubscribe. The problem, of course, is that they won’t even hear the most important communications if they’re unsubscribed.
That’s what I’ve done with “one call.” Since I found it impossible to remove my number from their list, I downloaded an app to my phone to block all these calls. I’ve unsubscribed.
In many ways, this is not unlike the fable of the boy who cried wolf. If you tell too many lies, no one believes you when you tell the truth.
Are you trying to communicate too much? Are people unsubscribing? If you try to communicate too many messages, no one will listen when you share your most important message.
