TELEPHONE COMMUNICATION
What happens when communicating on the phone? How do we determine if people are believable? We may take into consideration how they say what they say and the tone of their voice. The phone is a good substitute for face-to-face communication for quick, straight-forward conversations or when getting together is not convenient, but for discussing complex or emotional issues, it is best to meet face-to-face when practical.
Videoconferencing or Skype can be a good alternative when distance is an issue, but it is also important to understand that there are limitations to that technology also. For example, interviews conducted remotely may miss some valuable non-verbal communication that may be picked up in person.
EMAIL COMMUNICATION
When communicating via email or text messages, we have only the words on the page and maybe "emoticons" and/or photos to consider. This can make email seem like a simple communication tool, but as we all know too well, it is often difficult to determine the sender's true message because we do not have the context of tone of voice, body language, or facial expressions. When an email message goes back and forth more than a couple of time, it is usually best to pick up the phone or schedule a face-to-face meeting to make sure the message is understood and any issues resolved.
Developing effective communication skills is a challenging but rewarding effort. It helps to understand the communication process and to be aware of our responsibilities as a communicator. Developing our skills takes time, effort, and practice. Creating a performance plan that defines actions for improving communication skills is a good first step.
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