An Email Sent is Not a Communication Received

When your email goes unanswered try another approach

I cannot tell you how many times at work I hear someone say, “I sent them an email and they haven’t responded.” And so, they either send another email or they give up. In fact, just recently a colleague mentioned sending 9 emails – 9 emails! – even keeping a list of all these unrequited correspondences – and of course getting more and more frustrated with the nerve the other person had in not responding.

After my initial wide-eyed, stunned look wore off, I proceeded to ask my colleague about the other forms of communication and outreach they had tried. Clearly email was not the preferred way to get ahold of this person. You guessed it, they had not attempted a text or phone call or video chat or visit, even though the person sat within walking distance. Upon reflection and realization that perhaps the other person wasn’t a jerk, my colleague proceeded to try these other routes and low and behold dialog is underway! Eureka!

So, the next time you have a critical email to be read, please follow-up with a text or phone call, and don’t stop trying different communication tools until you have achieved the attention of the other person. A positive affirmation that they have read and understand what is required of them.

Just for fun, it may be helpful to know that at certain times throughout my career, I have had volumes of emails such that my email queue at work contained 1,000s – yep, 1,000s of unread emails. Even with an executive assistant and an office manager to assist, we could not read every email. Instead, we keyed on specific senders, search terms, subject lines, and certainly whether I was the lone recipient on the “TO” line. As a sign of respect, I assume others may be in the same boat and I also text or call to make sure important emails don’t get lost or buried in the queue. Folks are always appreciative when the outreach is done politely.

“Just because you speak, send an email, or any other digital communications, does not mean you have communicated. Communication occurs when the recipient ‘hears’, comprehends, and responds.” – Patricia Hatley, leadership coach