Communication Is the Glue of All Social Life

Communication Is the Glue of All Social Life

15 April 2026

We live in the age of social media. Many believe this leads to better communication and stronger cohesion. What I have noticed lately, however, is the opposite: we are communicating less effectively, which creates tension and can escalate into conflict. Increasingly, organizations consist of groups of people who are no longer connected through communication.

One of the most striking phenomena is the failure to answer questions. People ask a question—often by email—and when a response does come, it turns out to be a long story that does not adequately address the question. More and more often, there is no response at all, not even a confirmation that the message has been received.

This is widely visible in job applications, particularly among students from the Netherlands. We also see this in politics, where members of parliament do not receive answers to written questions, or only after several months. The same applies to unanswered inquiries from the Ombudsman.

But it also occurs between colleagues and in relationships with other stakeholders—especially clients and customers. The result is straightforward: organizations do not function well. At times, it even seems that people within organizations are indifferent, as long as they receive their salary.

The point is simple: organizations would function much better if people responded promptly, concisely, and adequately to questions addressed to them.

Why has it become so difficult to simply provide an answer?

 Miguel Goede