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Ah, the digital version of "we'll call you back." At Red Rocket, I'm all too familiar with this dance. It seems polite, it feels safe, but it's actually a missed opportunity. For both parties.

It reminds me of online dating - "send a photo of yourself" versus having a coffee. We all know which approach really works. Why? Because real connections are made in conversations, not in PDFs via a short email thanking you for a clear discussion.

I recently had a situation like this. An organization asked for "some information." Instead, I suggested we just have a 15-minute call. What happened? They were struggling with entirely different challenges than what would be in a standard information brochure. That nuance, that context - you can't capture that in an email.

The funny thing is, we all do this. We ask for information because it's easy, because it doesn't require commitment. But if you're truly seeking solutions, if you really want to know if something works for your situation, then you need to have a conversation.

Because recruiting is about people. You can send a pile of documents about your approach, your successes, your methodology. But ultimately, it comes down to one question: can we tackle your challenges together?

You don't answer that question with a brochure. You answer it in a conversation.

And yes, sometimes that means I "waste" 15 minutes on a conversation that leads nowhere. But is that worse than spending weeks on emails going back and forth that also lead nowhere?

Because ultimately, recruiting isn't a product catalog you flip through. It's a partnership you engage in. And that always starts with a good conversation.

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