Don't you worry, dear readers, I am not planning on retelling "The Terminator" plot. As the matter of fact, the two technological developments I want to discuss are related to the CFOs' and Controllers' supervisory responsibilities. On the surface (!), they seem to serve a good purpose and could be attractive solutions to some of our common problems.
Every exec with subordinates communicating with financial institutions, investors, key vendors and customers, is vulnerable to their emotional whims, diplomatic abilities and verbal skills. This is especially true with out favorite mode of communication – emails, which remove the recipients' faces and voices thus making the expression of aggression easier.
I have a list of actual stories to be told about relationship damage caused by employees' spiteful writing. And it is not like I don't employ prevention strategies. I give training talks. I impose a sense of supervision by requesting to be copied on all important communications. I even write Post-Its and stick them on the worst offenders' monitors, "Please re-read ALL your emails three times before sending them out." Still, once in a while something happens that requires damage control.
Lo and behold! In NY Times Year in Ideas I read about ToneCheck – "an e-mail outbox filter that works as a sort of emotional spell-check, offers typists a chance to reconsider their words before" sending their missive. I watch the cute animated video attached and my first reaction is like "Finally!!! Hooray!!!"
Then I read further and I forget that I am a CFO with unruly subordinates who require monitoring. I remember that I am a Person and that Freedom of Speech is an important issue for me. Yeah, it's useful in the office environment, but this dangerous program has a capacity to be tuned to ANY CONTENT. I imagine it being installed without my knowledge by my ISP and checking my personal emails for "inappropriate" content as defined by… whoever has the power to do so. How do you feel about it now?
Here is another common problem and even scarier solution for it. How many times we catch our employees attending to their personal business or even playing online games during working hours? We wonder about the hours they waste the costs of it. Frustrated, we think we should like to watch them. So, here you go Computers That See You and Keep Watch Over You. This "wonderful" program sees you and analyzes your facial expressions. And it can be installed on your personal computer without your knowing it.
You know what? I don't want these "solutions." Not even in my office. Let me work harder with my employees on their work attitude, verbal skills and aggression management. If boycotting these products means that we can keep them away from invading our personal privacy, then be it. I hope you click on the links, read about it and agree.
It's like what Benjamin Franklin said,"Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety."
The Frustrated CFO 
Wonderful to have a comment from a representative of the company responsible for one of the products discussed in the post. Let me confirm that I have no doubt in the good intentions of your CEO and everyone who worked on and marketed this product. Communication, in the literal and philosophical sense of this word, is probably the most important sociological issue. It is the inability to look into the future and perceive potential malfeasant applications of your product that I am concerned about. It is unlikely that you will start screening your clients. Hence, you will not be able to monitor how your product will be used.
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Interesting post M,
We are glad that your first reaction to ToneCheck was excitement. You clearly understand the issues of miscommunication in text based communication. Studies show that about 50% of email communication is misinterpreted. With that being said:
The company was created with our CEO scratching his own itch in franchise sales. He found he was good at closing deals face-to-face and on the phone, but when it came to emails, he was perceived as pushy or aggressive.
The overall goal of the project is to help the world communicate clearly, meaning the way they intended to come across. It acts more like having a co-worker look over your shoulder than restricting freedom of speech. We don’t actually tell users how the text should be changed, it suggests how the recipient could perceive the message.
The issue with the other program where workers are being watched is pretty scary! It would be awkward if my boss caught me fixing my contact lens or unintentionally scratching my inner nose. All jokes aside, our program is all about people communicating to people.
Cheers,
Bryan Cromlish
Community Manager
Lymbix Inc
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