“It should be no surprise that managers in IT environments tend to have a habit of using IT. While communicating through technology can be fast, it is not always as effective as communicating in person. Leaders in the IT sector need to keep this in mind – fast does not equal effective. Without exception, the most effective communications are face to face. Clarification of project details, communication about needed improvements, a heart-felt thank you; these objectives and many more are most effectively achieved when face-to-face. This is so because face to face conversation provides immediate feedback through multiple channels all of which aid in genuine – expressions, gestures, vocal tone, back-and-forth exchanges happening in real time, just to name a few. Next time the urge rises to send off an email to initiate a conversation, consider an actual conversation instead. Follow-up with email if a written summary makes sense, but have the initial conversation face to face.”
– Arron Grow, Ph.D., professor of Applied Leadership at City University of Seattle