This is an important distinction that I notice many employees do not consciously make. Often the choices are influenced by convenience not keeping in mind what would be most effective to deliver the outcome.
When to write an email --> Only when you are conveying pure logic or facts
When to pick up the phone --> when you you are conveying emotions or anticipate an emotional response from the other side.
I have seen many emotional emails that make poor reading and I have also been in calls where logic is intimately explained. Logic explained on the phone cannot be traversed back and forth and hence is difficult to grasp on the phone.
the above approach has worked for me and hope it does for you as well.
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Thanks Shekhar. A very useful thought put in a simple words. Where does messenger chat fall. When should it be used when one has all three (chat, mail, phone) option available.
ReplyDeletei guess one can create a spectrum aroung the concept ranging from Logic to emotion from the available tools (in combination and stand alone)
ReplyDeleteTo me the messenger is still a form of writing (we have all seen long email chains). the moment you detect emotions taking over in the chats, pick up the phone!
Thanks Shekhar.
ReplyDeleteThe advent of Video Calls is upon us now...how do you tackle them? Is there a benefit of "not seeing" the other person during every business meeting? Or will these simply make people be (or seem to be) more attentive?
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