Communicating in the Modern World

With telecommuting on the rise, we could all use a lesson in virtual communication strategies. To help you make the most out of those virtual meetings and greetings, we’re providing some helpful tips for more effective communications.

-Language skills count, and a disregard for proper spelling, grammar, or punctuation could be the kiss of death to your perceived professionalism. Put your pride aside and run a spell check on every piece of e-mail and publish online materials using the same editing eye you’d put to print material.

-The need to make a memorable impression is more important than ever. Virtual communication brings us all one step closer to anonymity, without so much as the chance to be another face in a crowd. Adding your company logo to all e-communications provides colleagues and clients with a small, but effective visual image to grab onto. Choosing a unique font for your business can also assist with visual branding, but be sure to use the same font family and avoid overly decorative, unprofessional fonts like Papyrus or Comic Sans.

You can also convey individuality with greetings and signatures that echo your personality. For example, instead of the traditional “Dear,” you may try “Greetings,” “Hello,” or “Good afternoon.” Replace “Sincerely,” with “Kindest regards,” “Many thanks,” or a casual “Cheers,” depending on the nature of your correspondence.

-Polish your phone voice by smiling as you speak, even if nobody is there to see you. Smiling naturally increases enthusiasm, and your tone and inflection almost always mirror the expression. Speak slowly enough to be clear and address the person on the other line by name whenever possible.

-Don’t mince (too many) words. People who are uncomfortable telecommunicating and conversing with text often let nerves drive them to ramble. However, you can make a memorable impression online or on the phone without a lot of verbal padding, especially if you are concise. Convenient communication means many of us receive hundreds of calls, texts, and e-mails each week, so everyone appreciates knowing their time is valued. Planning out your e-mails and phone calls ahead of time will save your colleagues trouble and make you look considerate. Just don’t come off cold by neglecting to say please and thank you.