This is something on my heart that I really wish to share. In the past couple of weeks, I have been working on an amazing new project for a publisher. It was my first project for this publisher, which meant it was also a time of learning standards and building the relationship. As a freelancer, it is a joy to begin a new business relationship with a publisher because it opens up new opportunities and expands our experiences. What should have been a joyous time was also one of strong emotions. As I joined the team, the publisher had a death in the family, and before the project completed this past week, another team member had a death in the family as well. The publisher, the team member, and their families have been in my thoughts and prayers. I feel honored and blessed that I could lessen their project load, even just a little, so they could focus on their families. Throughout the project, I took the time to send separate messages of encouragement and support.
I know this is stating the obvious, but I think we need to be reminded occasionally that these faceless names on emails, disembodied conversations over social media, and distant voices over Skype and the phone are real people, with real lives, with occasional real challenges and tragedies in their personal lives. As freelancers, we may not be close friends of the team but we can still be encouragers and supporters. I encourage you to think about the people behind the names and remember that the relationship is worth more than the project.
NOTE: I have withheld the names of the publisher and the team member out of respect for their families and their privacy.
This is a great reminder for any of us working professionally with those we never see face-to-face. Thank you!
Online relationships are important and you must be even more deliberate than face-to-face relationships to strengthen them. The events of this project have reminded me of that so much.
I find that letter writing is rapidly becoming a lost art. It’s too easy to post a reply on Facebook or add to the ubiquitous ‘like’-ing of someone’s post (and I find myself falling into that category far too often) rather than spending the time, effort, and money to send a well (or at least passably) written note of sympathy. Past time, I think, to reclaim some of the social niceties of the past.
Virtual relationships sometimes become more callous. We are less sensitive than we are in face-to-face relationships. I agree, we need to make extra efforts to reach out to people however we know them. Traditional letter writing and cards are one of those ways.