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I’m curious. Do you think that body language translates through email?
As a communications specialist I’m always keenly interested in observing effective communication. In business presentations and memos there’s a protocol and standard to which we adhere. I like the structure as both the writer and the reader are on the same page.
But in day-to-day communication – email, text, social media – I think our communication style is more conversational and far less predictable. We communicate faster, and because we can’t be animated in written communication we utilize more common expressions, tools, icons, and abbreviations to get our point across. (I received an answer to an email the other day that was simply a smiley face. I knew exactly where the author was coming from!)
Sometimes we press the send key a little too quickly – share our views, misspell someone’s name, give the wrong directions – heck, I could write a book on how many people have addressed me as “Mr.” Rang!
Aha – the very fact that we’re communicating shows we care!
Socrates said, “Give me beauty in the inward soul; may the outward and the inward man be as one”. I think it’s our desire to be connected – human to human – to hear and be heard, that fuels such personalized communication. Bring it on!!!
As for body language, or any language, the act of revealing brings us closer. 🙂