3 Simple Tips That Anyone Can Use To Avoid Creating Digital Stress
You might be causing digital stress without you knowing it
That’ll be fine.
If you receive the above message from your boss, how would you feel? Are they okay with what you are doing, or they are pissed off at you? There are different ways you can interpret the message.
Technology makes communication easy, but it also makes it harder to interpret. Non-verbal cues and body language play a vital role in our day-to-day communications. But it is hard to know or guess the feelings of the sender or recipient when we do not see their face. A simple sentence can have a lot of different meanings.
Have you ever felt confused after receiving an email or text message from your work colleagues or friends? You have no idea what they meant or what they want.
If not, you might be the one who sent the confusing email or message. You did not receive any reply from the recipient after hours of sending the message. You sit there wondering if you offended them by sending the email or are angry with you because of a previous encounter?
Many communications are being done virtually. Texts, emails, instant messages, and video calls are virtual forms of commonly used communications. Recall how often you checked your Whatsapp and replying to the message you received.
If the message you sent or receive is not clear, it might cause digital stress. Digital stress is stress caused by negative interactions in the digital world (social media, emails, text messages).
I have been on the receiving end of unclear emails and messages. Miscommunications often happen when the medium of communication is through text.
I want to improve myself in communicating online. I started learning about the arts of communication in the digital world. I read a book called Digital Body Language Digital Body Language — How to Build Trust and Connection, No Matter the Distance by Erica Dhawan. I applied these tips and tricks from the book, and it helped me immensely!
Here are the three things you can do before clicking the send button to avoid creating digital stress:
Read the Message Out Loud
Read the sentence out loud and interpret it yourself. If you are the sender of the message, ask yourself if the message is clear enough? If you receive the message, will you understand the meaning of the message, or you will have a different interpretation?
If you are the recipient, read the message a few times to ensure you get the meaning that the sender wants you to know. If you are still not clear, clarify the purpose of the message with the sender.
Consider the Medium of Communication
Read the message that you are about to send. Is it okay to send it through text message or email? Is it too complex for the recipient to understand the meaning you try to inform?
If yes, change the medium you are communicating. If you try to explain a complex instruction, perhaps calling the person is more suitable to avoid confusion. If you want to show how the product works, a video call might be more appropriate in this matter.
Another factor to consider when choosing a medium to communicate is the urgency of the message. If it is of utmost importance, try calling the person instead of sending an email. Not everyone will respond to messages and emails immediately. Sometimes we are too consumed in our work, and we miss out on important messages.
The Tone of the Message
Even you can’t see the person when communicating digitally, and they can sense your mood through the message. Sometimes you are not angry, but your message makes people feel that you are mad.
If you are higher up in the hierarchy (e.g. CEO of the company), try to take note of the tone of your message before sending it out. Did you sound too rushed or angry?
If your message sounds angry, you may cause distress to your employee. Avoid using exclamation marks and capital letters in your message. Overusing exclamation marks and capital letters may give the perception that you are furious.
Takeaway Message
The internet world is booming. More and more jobs are moving online. The COVID-19 pandemic speeds up the whole procedure. All of us are new in this internet world. You may be causing digital stress without you knowing it.
Here are the three things you can do to avoid creating digital stress to your colleagues, family, and friends:
- Read the Message Out Loud
- Consider the Medium of Communication
- The Tone of the Message
I hope these tips helped you as they help me convey my message better and promote better work and personal relationships.
