Why you should never text colleagues during an argument

We’re all guilty of it – sending a brash email to a colleague after they’ve annoyed you, instead of walking over to them and broaching the topic face-to-face. It’s in our human disposition to err away from conflict, and in a workplace environment this desire to stay out of trouble can only intensify a conflict.

However, as it transpires, messaging during conflicts, instead of speaking, only adds fuel to the co-worker fire. A recent piece in Entrepreneur, written by Kevin Hart, Co-Founder of HB Agency, details how texting and emailing lacks the personalisation of a conversation, and can lead to tones being lost or misread.

“Via email, a well-meant turn of phrase or candid, nurturing feedback can turn sour in a hurry if interpreted incorrectly,” he explains. “When conflict of any type arises, people are often too quick to use email to try and resolve the problem. Never use emails to resolve conflicts. It does more harm than good.

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“People assume the tonality and meaning, turning what might be a straightforward comment into something completely different. These assumptions are a recipe for disaster, especially in professional services organisations.”