There are clearly many different ways to communicate as part of this weeks assignment we saw the same message delivered 3 ways, via email, voicemail and face to face. The person receiving the message translates each of these communication methods differently.
The email in our small case study seemed to be wordy and insincere. There are three types of emails that I send, “The first is the quick or low priority response. I send things I hope will just be immediately deleted or read whenever. The second is documentation. When I want to layout something that someone can refer to in the future, I'll send an email so that they can easily save the information however they like. The third is when I want to be on record”. (Ramsey, 2008) It was clear that an email asking for the information didn’t fit into any of the above options. It was have been an email or file that Jane needed from Mark, but the original request didn’t have to be an email.
I think that voicemail communication from the standpoint of phone tag isn’t the best approach to communication. If it’s voicemail system then that maybe better. Also with either system it seems like the information given like in an email will make or break the message. For example if the voicemail message is “call me”, why didn’t you email or text me that message? Voicemail does have the advantage of sincerity, and being able to hear the persons voice and emotions. All to often we try and put “emotion” in emails and in type with things like LOL or OMG. LOL will never replace a sarcastic comment that is followed by an LOL. For example, if I send an email to my boss on a project status update and ask him “Are you done with that file yet, it’s taking forever for you to get me that information, LOL!!” That may not come across as sarcasm in an email like it would in a voicemail.
Face-to-Face communication has the lowest chance of misinterpretation, in the example for this week it was apparent that Jane was actually aim to be very open and sincere. Her goal was to truly get a status update not to really push Mark to complete something fast then possible. The emphasis in the email and voicemail seem to be on Jane need to complete her assignment. With the f2f it seemed more laid back just looking for an update. “Face-to-face communication has nuances that electronic communication will never have. I knew I'd be able to express an easily misunderstood point much more clearly in person.” (Ramsey, 2008)
Overall, I think that it flows smoothly and clearly from email to F2F communication for how emotions can be misinterpreted. Also it seems based off of my professional experiences it’s easy to type an emotional email and then hit send and regret putting the information into text. Emotions tend to stay in check more with voicemail, phone calls and F2F communication.
References:
Multimedia Program: "The Art of Effective Communication", Laureate Inc. 2010
Ramsey, J. (2008, July 14). Communication - Phone vs. Email vs. Voicemail.... (Staying Sane - Organization in a Digital World). Allegheny College: Webpub. Retrieved March 17, 2011, from http://webpub.allegheny.edu/dept/com
Posts
Hi Robert,
ReplyDeleteAs we have learned from this week’s resources, there are different methods of communicating and each message can take on a different meaning even if the message is the same. Stolovitch, (2010) asserted tonality, body language; timing and personality of the recipient are all components of communication. We must be cognizant about all of these components when communication especially messages that are very important. In fact, Stolovitch, (2010), stated that important messages should be delivered face to face.
As I viewed the three methods of communicating, the email message came off as the least effective for conveying the true meaning of the messages. I do agree with you that face to face had the most profound meaning, conversely, the phone conversation in the video had almost the same affect on me as the face to face. In fact at the end of the face to face message, I was a little turned off because of the huge grin on the lady’s face. I know that Stolovitch stated that the message should be friendly and respectful, but that enormous grim show a side of insincerity to me. Nevertheless, we must always be careful about the manner and way in which we communicate; especially in the business arena.
References:
Stolovitch, H. D. (2010). Communicating with stakeholders: [Motion Picture]
Hi Robert,
ReplyDeleteEmail and voice mail are great tools for scheduling meetings, sending, and receiving information. However, establishing consensus for important data in an organization requires a face-to-face meeting or a webinar so that there is a cohesive planning stage. Many times I will receive five or six emails on the same topic within an hour as a result of an administrator shifting procedures while splitting out emails in a blink of an eye. Reoccurring emails from the same party tends to dilute the importance of the message. According to Stolovitch (2011) oral and written communication must be established with members on the team including the stakeholder.
Regards,
Darlene Morris
Reference:
Stolovitch.,H. (2011) “Project Management Concerns: Communication Strategies and Organizational Culture”.[Video Podcast]. Retrieved March 16, 2011 from http://sylvan.live.ecollege.com