Email has transformed communication in the workplace. Gone are the days when people had to spend lost hours trying to get in touch with their colleagues in different areas of the building or in different parts of the country. With communication via email, an answer can be had in mere minutes, if the other party is online at the same time or if they check their emails frequently. In spite of these advantages, there are some ways that email can make communication in the business world less effective.
Less Professional
Professionalism is a necessary part of the business world. This is particularly true in today’s global economy, where two managers from opposite ends of the world might be working out a deal for their companies that involves millions of dollars and has the potential to forge a long-term and mutually beneficial partnership. There is a temptation, however, to let professionalism slide and allow more friendly emails to creep in. It is best to avoid this habit as it can blur the lines between work and pleasure.
More Time Consuming
It can seem easy enough to dash off a quick email in answer to an inquiry about a product or to clarify instructions for someone. But if the recipient doesn’t understand what is meant by certain segments of the email, it could take much longer to work through the issue. A simple phone call is often a better solution instead of a lengthy email exchange.
Less Concise
Email just cannot compare to verbal communication when it comes to explaining a process to someone else. It is impossible to address all the possible questions and issues that could arise along the way. In many instances, confusion could have easily been addressed by a short phone call.
Harder to Gauge Tone
Due to the one-dimensional nature of email, it can be quite hard to deliver the right tone. For many business people who communicate via email, it can be difficult to maintain a professional tone without sounding too terse. It is easy to misunderstand intent based on a few email exchanges. A face-to-face meeting or a phone call is likely to be the best choice in this matter.
According to many experts, communicating via email in the business world is here to stay. While it is fine to embrace this trend, it is also important to be aware of the ways in which email can hamper communication.
