Communication

Has an associate ever called you on the phone and asked if you received their e-mail? As frustrating as that might be, there’s a reason for it — communication.

In the digital world, e-mail is probably the easiest way to communicate to a mass group but it is also the easiest way to not get a response. In fact, e-mail is the greatest obstacle to good communication because many senders assume that communication has taken place simply by clicking the “send” button.

As the receiver of a message you have four responsibilities to the sender: read, interpret, evaluate and respond. Although responding to every single e-mail message is totally unnecessary and professionally cumbersome, evaluate each message individually and then decide if it warrants a response.

As UFirst NOW Agents, think about what you’re trying to convey before sending an e-mail. If sending details about an upcoming training session, ensure you have included all the associated information and a way for the recipients to respond with questions, comments and suggestions.

For some messages, follow-up phone calls, texting, face-to-face meetings, and other forms of communication might be necessary to ensure your team is … well, communicating.