This week we are assigned to view three types of communication of the same message, but using email, voicemail, and in person as the conduits of the message. Dr. Stolovitch stated that “effective communication is influenced by:
·         Spirit and attitude
·         Tonality and body language
·         Timing
·         The personality of the recipient (Laureate Education Inc., n.d.)

The email message seemed succinct, but maybe a little strong and maybe unfriendly. Since there is no intonation or body language to enhance the message, it is difficult to evaluate. It could be construed as anger or just as a reminder. A person’s unique experiences and culture also affect how they receive information. Since companies may need to communicate by ways other than in person as there may be offices across the country or international, written communication needs to be clear and concise with no ambiguity.

The voicemail seemed friendlier, but not a lot different than the email. Although there was some voice inflection, it was still difficult to determine the tone of the message. She does not seem angry, but almost pleading to get the information for her report.

The in-person message seemed more friendly and just as a reminder for him. She seemed relaxed and not upset. It appeared this was just a friendly reminder to him.  She did not use good eye contact, but had a relaxed posture so it did not appear as direct as the email or voicemail. Although this may have been the friendliest way of communication, it cannot be documented. Also, she could have used this as a dialogue and waited on his response in order to get a quick answer. Dr. Stolovitch stated that for written communication, it need to “keep tone of all communications business friendly and respectful (Laureate Education Inc., 2008).

Personally, I liked the email as I usually do better with the written text. This type of communication is straight forward and can be referenced and responded to easily. I think some implications include defining how communication will occur during the project and what works best for the team members. This can be a part of the start phase when tasks are being assigned. A part of this is determining “how they will handle routine communications…and resolve conflicts” (Portny, Mantel, Meredith, Shafer, & Sutton, 2008, p. 79). What works best for one person, may not be the best for another.

Laureate Education, Inc. (2012). Communicating with Stakeholders. [Video webcast].

Portny, S. E., Mantel, S. J., Meredith, J. R., Shafer, S. M., Sutton, M. M., & Kramer, B.E. (2008). Project management: Planning, scheduling, and controlling projects. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.