Issue #2

I believe e-mail as a form of communication can be a very useful tool, but we must be aware of its limitations and adjust our communication accordingly. E-mail offers a very quick and reliable way to communicate with someone nearly anywhere in the world, but we must keep in mind that is can easily be misunderstood or misinterpreted if we aren’t careful. Due to this possible misunderstanding, we must constantly be aware of how our written communication via e-mail might be interpreted without being accompanied by the nonverbal forms of communications that go along with many other types of interpersonal interactions.

This point is driven home in Leahy’s article. Leahy discusses how the reader of an email unconsciously interprets the text based on their current mood, stereotypes and expectations, and typically misinterprets the tone of an e-mail 50% of the time. When a person is reading an email, their own life experiences and current circumstances affect the way they interpret the message. Many times, there is a disconnect between the message the sender is trying to get across and the message the reader is receiving. To help address this disconnect, we can apply the concepts of “audience centered communication” when writing e-mails.

When writing an e-mail, it is helpful to put yourself in the reader’s shoes and ask yourself how this message might come across to that individual given their current circumstances. Try to consider the possible circumstances and surroundings of your audience as they read your e-mail. Also, ask yourself how that person might misinterpret your message and then alter your e-mail to address some of these concerns. Ask yourself if your e-mail is too vague or allows for too much interpretation and try to strengthen your e-mail by using very specific words or phrases. Also try to develop your point fully to eliminate room for misinterpretation. By applying these concepts and writing using the audience centered approach, e-mails will become easier to fully understand can become a more efficient and effective way to communicate.