When Is Business Email the Tool of the Devil: Communicating Well Through This Overworked Medium

William S. Kane

People get nervous when the organizational grapevine begins to buzz about potential acquisitions/takeovers, major process enhancements, facility closures, operational shifts, or a reduction in force. Reactions can take on several forms—from hushed water cooler conversation to sabotage or even violence.

To mitigate your team’s concerns, you need to be a proactive communicator. But being proactive alone doesn’t guarantee effectiveness.

Recognizing that there is no such thing as the perfect sharing of meaning and understanding, it’s up to you to determine the appropriate content of your message, as well as the best medium through which ...