Emails replacing conversation

Re: Emails replacing conversation

Helen Tottey — Tue, 16 Jul 2013 18:40:28 GMT

Re: Emails replacing conversation

Mark Hedberg — Tue, 16 Jul 2013 15:02:14 GMT

It's situations like this that expose an interesting irony. Employers the world over want employees to be more assertive and engaged, and then the employees get in trouble for being assertive and engaged, making decisions without 'permission'. End result? Employees are not assertive and engaged.

Re: Emails replacing conversation

Helen Tottey — Tue, 16 Jul 2013 14:11:41 GMT

[quote user="Arlo Guthrie"]

But if you are going to criticise a colleague for something they've done, FIRST talk about it, THEN confirm what has been discussed in an email.

That way, the person on the receiving end of the email has some context to put it in.

[/quote]

Exactly!

My mistake was to organise a CPD event that 30 plus members of staff want to come to having first gained permission from a director. When I could not contact him when the speaker asked that we cover her petrol expenses, I agreed (she is speaking free of charge so surely a no brainer) I was told I was not allowed to agree to this without prior permission. Now I understand if it was hundreds of pounds but it was £40-£50!

If I am honest, I had a great buz about organising this but after that, I thought what is the point! This might sound childish but at this point, I had not even been thanked (I have since) for taking it on myself to arrange.

Not one to let this sort of thing go, I did not email him back but I called and spoke to him and although my email explaining my original actions had been very descriptive as to why I thought it was ok to agree, I apologised for my decision which I think shocked him that I had "spoken"!!

Re: Emails replacing conversation

S-J — Mon, 15 Jul 2013 21:39:42 GMT

its even worse than you think, as an a+e practice we expect plenty of calls at midnight but now people have started emailing us thier emergencies, crazy!

Re: Emails replacing conversation

Arlo Guthrie — Fri, 12 Jul 2013 11:51:25 GMT

[quote user="emmRAR"]I think people favour email a bit because there is physical proof of what has been said in a conversation, you never know when you might need to refer back to it! [/quote]

Yes, which is fine if you are doing something like complaining about a bad service or faulty product.

But if you are going to criticise a colleague for something they've done, FIRST talk about it, THEN confirm what has been discussed in an email.

That way, the person on the receiving end of the email has some context to put it in.

Re: Emails replacing conversation

Sal the 1st — Fri, 12 Jul 2013 11:19:19 GMT

[quote user="emmRAR"]

I think people favour email a bit because there is physical proof of what has been said in a conversation, you never know when you might need to refer back to it!

[/quote]

exactly

Re: Emails replacing conversation

emmRAR — Fri, 12 Jul 2013 09:52:40 GMT

I think people favour email a bit because there is physical proof of what has been said in a conversation, you never know when you might need to refer back to it!

Re: Emails replacing conversation

Sal the 1st — Thu, 11 Jul 2013 20:28:33 GMT

[quote user="Arlo Guthrie"]

So it should only be used either for tame stuff, or when you consciously want to infuriate someone!

[/quote]

- yup I hold my hand up to that, I can and have been guilty of that one - especially if somebody just doesnt take the hint when you try the more conventional ways of communicating, where the spoken word fails I find a carefully worded email a lot more effective and humane than a baseball bat

Re: Emails replacing conversation

emmadilemma — Thu, 11 Jul 2013 19:19:15 GMT

What really annoys me is that emails are now being replaced by Facebook! I`m going to write a very strongly worded letter (on paper) to someone about it one of these days

Re: Emails replacing conversation

Arlo Guthrie — Thu, 11 Jul 2013 15:05:41 GMT

[quote user="Helen Tottey"]Since when did it become acceptable for all communication to be by email and text?[/quote]

Never! But to be fair, people are still learning how to use email.

I have a simple rule: If I'm at all irritated, annoyed or angry about something, or want to criticise someone I know (and have some sort of relationship with, ie. friend, work colleague), NEVER USE EMAIL, ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS PICK UP THE TELEPHONE.

It is incredible how steamed up people (myself included) can get about the written word. So it should only be used either for tame stuff, or when you consciously want to infuriate someone!

Re: Emails replacing conversation

lskm 23 — Thu, 11 Jul 2013 12:58:33 GMT

At work we have little message books in our pigeon holes - these are supposed to be used to pass messages on when the person you need to give that message to is not around and you then don't forget to tell them. I have seen the practice manager write a note in my book when Im standing next to her using the computer in the location of the pigeon hole!!

Re: Emails replacing conversation

Sandra Nicoll — Thu, 11 Jul 2013 12:17:03 GMT

Its frustrating isn't it - I was bemoaing this just the other day sometimes I get an email from a colleague 1 desk up!?!? Think people are afraid to actually approach people in case its seen as a waste of time!

Re: Emails replacing conversation

Mark Hedberg — Thu, 11 Jul 2013 09:35:52 GMT

Well, I could do the ironic answer and point out you're communicating this by forum!

Joking aside, that's not very good people management skills to tell someone off via email, unless there's honestly no other way! (eg the person is on the other side of the world, 10 hours time difference.)

Why? because it's hard to get the nuances of feeling across in text.

My sympathies!