Communication: Comparing phone calls, emails and face-to-face interactions.

Chronicles of Experience

Communication has evolved and is now possible from a range of different devices. You can email from your bed and call from the car. The possibilities seem endless, but is all as beneficial as it seems? There are those that say all these new technologies are inhibiting our ability to talk to each other. I say that there is a balance to be had between the various forms of communication.

Phone Calls vs Face-to-Face:

• Have 5 min between meetings? Give that troublesome employee a quick call.
• Anywhere is an office and a long drive can now double as a conference call.
• A long drive is quickly replaced by dialling a number and you can reach a lot of people very quickly.
• A phone call is a lot less personal because it takes less effort and constant calls and no sit-downs can give the impression that you are unwilling to spend that time to build the relationship.
• A phone call is devoid of context. Has your client just received bad news, or are they preoccupied by their surroundings? There is no sure way to know.
• The importance of looking someone in the eye must never be underestimated.
• Body language can tell you a thousand stories with a single touch or handshake. You could be missing out on valuable communication.

Emails:

This is probably the most prevalent form of communication today and it has some benefits that neither a phone call or face-to-face interactions provide. Unfortunately, all of the drawbacks of phone calls are still present, and you cannot even hear the voice on the other end. Tone is vital to understanding in some instances and an irreplaceable part of building relationships.
Emails, however, afford us the flexibility of responding in our own time and keeping a simple record of those interactions. You can think through each sentence carefully and analyse each word choice before starting a difficult conversation, which can keep unnecessary misunderstandings at bay. Grammar can be a valuable tool to make yourself understood.

Think about what you want to say, how you want to say it and also what form of communication you will use to convey the message. These aspects will also influence the rapport between people and the inevitable relationships that form.