The Art of Effective Communication

Wk3 blog assignment

 

After reading/observing the message in an email, voicemail and face-to-face video for me there is a definite difference in how the message can be interpreted.

  In an email depending on the mood of the reader the tone could be thought of as frustrated or slightly rude.  The message seemed extremely urgent.

However, when I listened to the voicemail I wrote in my notes “less harsh than the email”.  I think this goes back to the tone that is in your head when you read an email.  Maybe it is the person sending it to you or just your own mood as you read it.  When you hear the person’s voice you can sense the urgency or lack thereof and the tone whether it be frustrated or friendly.

For me the face-to-face was the friendliest approach presented.  You could see the person’s facial expressions and body language. Both of these features help paint a picture of the situation. 

When asking for something that could be perceived as urgent it may be best to communicate face-to-face. 

I understand why email is such a popular way to communicate.  It is quick, convenient and then there is documentation of the “conversation”.  Also, some people like to avoid or are not as confident with face-to-face interactions.  Email allows them to communicate more comfortably.  If you have to use email when asking for something it is important that the tone of your email is considered before hitting send!

 

KWK