The e-mail and Misunderstandings

I have already commented on occasion that in many cases there is a lack of understanding of the message we want to transmit, for various reasons, in some cases will be attributable to ourselves, in others to our interlocutor, and can sometimes be the means through which the message is not suitable. Joseph Julian, on his blog The intelligence of emotions, exemplified beautifully the other day. He received a warning for some time to contact a person, but the phone call that had supposedly lacked a figure, then an email came in insisting that the person contact, but without identifying themselves. Responded to the mail, but got no answer ... The rest of the story, best read on your page!, But the fact is that the successive stages, communication was poor, incomplete, unidirectional. At work we are in constant contact with others: colleagues, bosses, customers, suppliers ... communicate with us, and sometimes misunderstandings occur. A very useful tool, but can be a source of conflict, is email. I would define as a "heavy user? of this application, not just by the number of send or receive emails regularly, but because I find it very useful as a productivity tool.

Unlike the telephone, is a noninvasive means, in the sense that usually does not require an immediate response from the peer, unless something is urgently requested. However, the phone is a constant source of interruptions: X calls you ...? Can you wear? It will only be a minute ... Hey, I called and urgently, I step ... With which already has lost the focus that is sometimes required for certain issues. However, it is a misuse of the mail in many cases, and also has, of course, a disadvantage compared to other types of communication, such as personal or telephone. First, we should consider that e-mail offers an image of ourselves and our company to others. I would be surprised to know, or perhaps already some companies you may know-how that one would consider "good? from outside do not have a common corporate image-even-for similar emails (do not have a default signature!). To me this seems very appealing, and possibly a sign that they are not as great as it seems, not worry so much about the details. Maybe I am a fussy eater.

Another issue to consider is the wording of the email. If someone sends a standard letter to a customer, supplier, etc., try to be neat and exquisite in the language used, but often the mail does not do the same, is written in any way. Why? It is written in capital letters (Would you write the letter in capitals?), As conventionally understood that the use of full words in capital letters in this way is equivalent to scream (I guess someone who has answered so lately I know this), abbreviations are used SMS type, the spelling does not care ... What a picture! Another aspect worth noting is that e-mail, being a written medium, difficult to interpret some messages, yet would be easily interpretable in a conversation, and that it influenced by other factors: facial expression and body of speaker, tone of voice, gestures and so on. How have these limitations, it is important to be careful how we express ourselves, and yet sometimes be misunderstandings, much effort you put. So, I recommend that even if half "instant? (Often reply to emails without much thought, on the fly), read at least give it a second time before sending.

And if the mail importance requires it and we are not sure how you can interpret the other person, consult a colleague to see what you think. And despite its advantages, in many cases it will be necessary to supplement the mail with a phone call or personal meeting.