How to dig a ditch
What if you ask me to help dig a ditch in your backyard...and I show up with a hammer?
You might think, That's strange. What does he think he’s going to accomplish with that?
Let’s use this same logic to start questioning the misuse of workplace tools.
Before you can choose the right tool for effective communication, you’ll need to stop and consider the difference between information and conversation.
Information is concrete, factual, and unemotional.
Conversation is dynamic, conceptual, and feeling.
Too often, people default to email for the heavy lifting that’s meant for conversations.
Here are the results:
Confusion after trying to guess the tone infused into the words you just read.
Hurt after opening up an email that punches you with news you deserved to hear in person.
Frustration after sending the 15th response in an email chain that’s still going nowhere.
Annoyance after being trapped in an email whirlwind with 23 other confused people who don’t know why they’re included on the thread.
Email is an information tool. It may feel efficient to try and push it beyond its capabilities, but in the long run – it’s more work managing the miscommunication it causes.
Take inventory of your inbox: Where have others typed out what should have been spoken about?
Take stock of your sent box: Where have you done the same?
Hammers don’t dig ditches…misusing emails can.
Increase your commitment to conversation.
What’s the next one you should have?