Ghosting Epidemic Blamed on Efficiency Over Courtesy

A growing trend of professional ghosting, where individuals and businesses cease communication without explanation, is being attributed to an overemphasis on efficiency and the commoditization of expertise. This phenomenon extends beyond job applicants being ignored after interviews to encompass prospects, partners, former colleagues, and vendors who initiate contact and then disappear. The author recounts a personal experience where a warm introduction to a company's CMO, facilitated by a former coworker, resulted in a promise of an update by "next Tuesday" that never materialized. Despite the clear misalignment on the business opportunity, the expectation of a follow-up was set, and both the CMO and the former coworker subsequently ceased communication. This lack of basic professional courtesy, even when a deal is unlikely, is seen as a symptom of a broader shift in business practices. The author posits that when expertise is reduced to automated deliverables, the human element behind it becomes devalued, leading to a decline in the expectation and practice of professional courtesy. This "ghosting epidemic" is not just about rudeness; it reflects a systemic change where the perceived transactional nature of business interactions overshadows the importance of maintaining relationships and respecting the time and effort of others. The author notes that warm introductions have historically led to their longest-tenured clients, highlighting the value of nurtured professional connections. However, the current environment appears to be eroding these foundational aspects of business relationships. The convenience offered by AI SaaS platforms and automated solutions, while beneficial in many ways, may be inadvertently encouraging a disregard for the nuanced human interactions that build trust and foster long-term partnerships. The ease with which automated systems can handle tasks might be leading businesses to believe that human follow-up and communication are less critical, thereby contributing to the widespread ghosting observed across various professional contexts. This shift, according to the author, represents a significant loss of basic professional courtesy, impacting the very fabric of business interactions and potentially hindering the development of strong, lasting professional relationships. The author's experience underscores the disconnect between setting expectations and fulfilling them, even in situations where a formal agreement is not anticipated, suggesting a broader cultural shift away from accountability in communication.