There are many convenient communication methods, and they all have something different to offer. So, when does it make the most sense to just pick up the phone vs. sending out an email?
Avoid Misunderstanding
The first one I want to share is the most important one for me. We all have gotten one. You know what I am talking about – the email where you are just not sure what was meant by it. Unfortunately, it often spirals into wondering if I did something wrong or thinking that someone was being really unprofessional or many other assumptions. I sometimes find myself baffled on how to even respond. Since we all know how poorly sarcasm can translate to the written word, you want to be sure that your words won’t be misunderstood or misconstrued. That is when you pick up the phone!
Engage in Longer Dialogue
Who has time for long, lengthy email strings? If the topic requires a long conversation, involving questions and answers, back and forth between more than one party, an email exchange starts to take up valuable time and effort whereas the same conversation over the phone will take less time, effort, and be more convenient and efficient in business terms.
Get a Timely Response
If it’s important that you get a timely response to your query, email is almost certainly not the way to go. Not everyone is vigilant about checking or responding to their emails on a regular basis. A phone call makes sense if you’re trying to get a quick answer on something especially if it is time sensitive.
Business is about relationships. Emails are typically used to express a few ideas or move projects towards action. With the phone you get a chance to reinforce and build your relationship. The telephone still offers something very relevant, immediate and personal.
