In the past two weeks alone, I received two email messages communicating not-so-good news that should have been either phone calls or face-to-face meetings, rather than email messages. Email isn’t always appropriate to communicate some messages, especially bad news that needs to be “softened” or explained.

Am I old-fashioned for thinking this way?

Are more and more people “hiding” behind their computers to communicate negative information? Are we all becoming so accustomed to being attached to our computers and devices that we’ve forgotten how good it feels to hear someone’s voice or to see their facial expressions when they’re talking to us?

To me, there’s something about hearing bad news or negative information from a real person rather than seeing text on a computer screen that makes the information more bearable and easier to digest. Maybe it’s just me.

Is it… or do you feel this way, too?

Until next time, take care!

Kathy Magrino