Business Diplomat: Reachable, Not Available

Technology has made nearly everyone reachable. Prof. Dr. Mehmet Emin Erendor draws attention to what that has not changed. In this part of its interview series, Business Diplomat presents his observation.

First observation: accessibility and distance
“The digital environment has another interesting diplomatic consequence: the boundary between accessibility and distance is becoming increasingly blurred.” People are more reachable than ever, and the usual signals of distance and closeness have become less clear.

Second observation: access is not a claim
“Being able to reach someone’s email or message does not mean expecting an immediate reply from them.” The sentence defends a form of courtesy. The sender may have the means to contact; he does not have the right to demand speed.

Third observation: new questions
Erendor lists the questions that now belong to protocol: “When should one reply? Is it appropriate to send a message outside working hours? Which topics should be discussed face to face instead of by email?” None has a universal answer. All involve respect for the other person’s time and for the weight of the subject.

Fourth observation: institutions will set norms
He suggests that these rules are not only technical but “new diplomatic norms that provide trust and relationship management in the digital environment,” and that institutions and international organisations are likely to define them “more explicitly” in the coming period.

The logic of the assessment
Reachability has blurred distance. Reachability does not create a right to a quick response. New questions about timing and channel become part of protocol. And institutions will probably formalise the answers.

The role of Business Diplomat
The platform’s mission is to give young people experience, bring a diplomatic order to the business world, and benefit states by revitalising the economy. Erendor’s questions can form a discussion topic in the platform’s training. Business Diplomat can help young professionals form sound habits before such norms are written down.

Conclusion
Digital diplomacy asks professionals to respect the time and channel of others, even when everyone is easy to reach. Business Diplomat aims to teach that restraint.