Ghosting......JUST DON'T DO IT!

I never write about something as it happens. It is a personal thing, it is me learning about myself over time and knowing that I need time to reflect, time to process and usually time to calm the chuff down. So when I say something recently happened, chances are it was a while ago. And being ghosted is something I want to address today as I hear it happening so frequently but nobody seems to do anything about it. Or call people out for it. I'm certainly not into naming or shaming but I think people should think twice before making empty promises and getting peoples hopes up. Or just think twice before being plain rude.

One occasion I was approached by a client to pitch for some business which I did. I may have misread the signals but when they say “I’ll get back to you by close of play today” you get excited. Then followed a period of weeks of apologies and then ignored calls and delayed emails. Until the penny dropped and someone I knew posted that they had won the business. If you know me, you will know that I can be a sensitive soul and this really upset me, possibly because of stuff going on outside of work and some days you can take on the world, and some days just turning up feels like you’ve taken on the world. And I read on LinkedIn constantly about people being ghosted. And read so much about AI so I asked ChatGPT to write about being ghosted. Paragraph 2 hit the nail on the head.

The impact professionally can be emotionally and professionally challenging. It can lead to feelings of self doubt, uncertainty, and lost of confidence. Moreover, it can disrupt workflow, affect financial stability, and create a sense of instability. Recognising the potential impact is crucial in order to address the situation effectively and proactively.

And what did Chat GPT suggest?

1)      Self reflection.

2)      Seek closure.

3)      Diversify your client base.

4)      Learn & Adapt

And what do I suggest for people who have been ghosted?

1)      I will try to do my very best to ensure I never ghost anyone and I would encourage everyone to think twice about ignoring someone who has made any kind of effort especially when applying for a job or pitching for business.

2)      Don’t promise things that you can’t deliver. And if you thought you could and you don’t, apologise! An apology goes a long way.

3)      Have more empathy for others who have experienced being ghosting.

4)      One ghosting experience does not define who you are what you believe.

5)      And maybe thank your lucky stars once the red mist has lifted.

And if you are a Ghoster?

1) Don’t do it!

2) Be brave and say something like “If you don’t hear back from me by <insert date> then you’ve been unsuccessful as as much I’d like to get back to you personally, sadly it just isn’t possible due to my work load and demand.”

3) Show some respect for people who have spent time and effort on you or your business.

4) And don’t do it!