Sunday, December 4, 2011

You Do The Math


Six Emails or One Phone Call, You Decide

Although we choose to think electronic communication makes things easier, I’ve concluded that it mostly just causes things to be delayed and misunderstood.  I’m actively working on reducing my emails and replacing with phone calls.  I’ve found that too much gets lost in interpretation thus requiring me to ask more questions via emails.  Before you know it, there has been a volley of six emails when I can pick up the phone and typically resolve the issue in a matter of minutes.  Lets see, I get an email and respond with a question.  That’s two.  The other party responds and I respond saying okay.  That’s four.  They respond with good or okay, and I respond, thanks.  Yep!  That comes out to six emails. 

Is that good time management, I think not, but we have allowed society to convince us that email and texting are the best way to communicate.  Email and texting can be a valuable tool when disseminating information across a big group, but a phone call can still be far more effective.  Put down the mouse and pick up the phone.  Choose one over six.

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