August 28, 2020
Nowadays, we have a wealth of choices on how to communicate with our fellow team members and clients. Typically, most tend to default to email. We’ve all been in the situation where we’ve stepped away from our computer to come back to a plethora of emails. Below are some guidelines to help you select the best form of communication for the situation.
A few questions to ask yourself:
Plus, always keep in mind: What happens if someone forwards the email? Could the message be taken out of context? Is there a concern that sensitive information could be dispersed outside of your organization? Always consider the tone of your email and ensure that the reader is aware of acronym definitions used. If sensitive information is being communicated, ensure to mark your email as “Private & Confidential”.
Texting/Messaging
Messaging has become an accepted form of communication that tends to be underused at work. It’s a great way of getting a message to someone without going through the formality of composing an email. Some benefits include:
Phone Calls
Everyone has experienced a situation where you’re left wondering how someone could have misunderstood an email. What hidden message or tone did they interpret?
Other times, a simple email requiring a quick answer turns into multiple emails going back and forth. You finally pick up the phone and the matter gets cleared up in a few minutes, rather than 17 emails later.
Phone calls usually provide more clarity. Written communications only provide the words – tone, emotions and nuances are missing, which can make a world of difference. And as noted above, an email is a great way of formalizing and documenting key information discussed and agreed to in a conversation.