I’ve been scanning the internet for 2010 workplace predictions and it’s got me thinking about how all these trends are going to change the way we communicate. It’s my birthday - and I remember when you needed a carbon copier between two sheets of paper in a typewriter to make two copies of my television scripts. Since I’m going out on a limb with predictions I’ll expect someone to haul these out next year and see whether I was right.

1. Email Overload Revolt - Email inboxes are cluttered, messages are unreadable and email etiquette absolutely unruly. Last week I received responses from busy executives- two months after I wrote to them. Our kids “get” brevity because they text. Boomers must get with the program. There will be a ”tea party” over email - people will simply stop responding if you don’t send a message that’s brief, clear and actionable.

2. Global Communication Mutiny - More managers than ever have dark circles under their eyes as they try to manage global teams. Workplaces need new practices and policies. Overdosing on caffeine for extended periods is a recipe for burned out talent. Companies need to figure out real time communication without killing their best people.

3. Remote Access Leaders - Forty-three percent of employers say that in their organizations there will be less business travel in 2010 than in 2009. By my calculations, that means 57% will do the same or more.

Leaders will certainly hit the road more in 2010 as the economy improves to visit customers and do deals that can’t be done with Cisco technology. Barring another terrorist scare, long distance leadership will remain challenging - you may like working 24/7 but your team will be ducking for cover.

4. Social Media Manic Depression - The social media world will continue to befuddle most people as they try to figure out the best way to network, market and talk to each other. Should Facebook be for personal use? Is anybody reading your tweets? What about your blog? Look for more experimentation but no less uncertainty about where it’s all going for another couple of years.

5. Social Networking Hits the Teen Years - CIO.com reports that as the economy plummeted in 2009, Linked In’s popularity skyrocketed growing to more than 53 million members. Social networking is moving into the “teen years” meaning people will be hanging out with “groups” llike you did in high school. You might feel good having 3 million links but it won’t make you homecoming king or queen.

6. It’s What your Dad Said about the Job Search - Our firm posted an ad for a job and within 15 minutes had 80 applicants. It’s insane. Companies are still demanding you apply on line with no promise you’ll hear back one way or another. Time for a “Back to the Future” approach - call your friends, colleagues, and old boyfriends and girlfriends and find out what’s shaking in their industry.

7. Communication Breakdowns with Freelancers and Contract Workers - 3 in 10 employers anticipate hiring freelancers or contractors in 2010, up slightly from 28 percent in 2009. This will fill in some gaps in the lean workforce but challenge managers and leaders to bring people on board and make sure they are in the loop. Note to boss: you’ll need to spend more time, not less, communicating and directing their activities.

8. E-Readers in the Sky - Consumer Electronics Association predicts 5 million e-reading devices will be shipped this year, up from 2.2 million last year. Touch navigation, video chat and lower prices will “hook” not just early adopters but people who love packing a library in their briefcase. Still the trend will mostly “live” in the skies - and book lovers will keep arguing they prefer the feel of the printed page.

9. Dialogue is Destiny - Social media isn’t just a scalable publishing boon, it’s transformed broadcasst media monologue into social dialogue (many to many). Having a dialogue with customers and prospects will be the differentiator - understand what they want, why they buy (or don’t) is empowering consumers and creating mega-expectations so you have to get hip.

10. Pay-Up for Your News Fix - Traditional media social media sites won’t survive or certainly thrive if they don’t start charging for news. Mashable predicts ads on your Twitter page and ”Journalism” bought and paid for. Look for your favorite outlets to experiment with everything. Online advertising is predicted to eclipse newspaper ads by 2015 - I think it will be sooner. News junkies want their stuff free so it will be interesting to watch who wins this epic struggle.