In this world of cell phones, skype, email, instant messages, Twitter, Facebook, Linked In (must I continue?) It seems hard to believe that we build communities around the world better than we do right . . . next . . . door.

Consider this:

According to social scientists, from 1974 to 1998, the frequency with which Americans spent a social evening with neighbors fell by about one-third. Robert Putnam, the author of "Bowling Alone," a groundbreaking study of the disintegration of the American social fabric, suggests that the decline actually began 20 years earlier, so that neighborhood ties today are less than half as strong as they were in the 1950s.

This comes from a New York Times piece this morning, written by Peter Lovenheim who is writing a book about neighborhoods. (Read the full essay here.)

So Let Me Ask You?

When was the last time you focused on building the community with those who live near you rather than logging into Facebook? When was the last time you worked on your relationships at in the office rather than doing more email?

Networking, social media, and being in touch and available is great, but what are we trading for those wonderful new things?

Get some balance today - for yourself, your co-workers, those you lead, and for your neighbors.

Everyone will win.

Also posted in Leadership and Teamwork.