206 Project Management
however, altered your interpretationof the message. Before
choosing the best medium, you should consider what would be
the best approach. Here are some basic choices.
Face to Face or “Remote”? Obviously, delivering a message
in person sends a signal: it may suggest a greater urgency to
the message or a higher
level of concern or con-
sideration for the recipi-
ent. It may also be helpful
if an immediate dialogue
is expected to ensue.
Finally, face-to-face com-
munication affords you
the opportunity to
observe body language
and other nonverbal com-
munication.
Written or Oral? There are advantages and disadvantages to
each of these approaches. The best choice depends on your
needs. Preparing a written message affords you the opportunity
to rework the message until you feel it’s right; however, text
messages are subject to misinterpretation because tone, inflec-
tion, and feeling are difficult to convey in writing. Verbal com-
munication allows for more immediate back-and-forth commu-
nication; with that immediacy, however, comes the risk of say-
ing the wrong things or saying things wrong.
Formal or Informal? Your level of formality may also send a sig-
nal. Formal communications may suggest a lack of familiarity,
comfort, or friendliness with the other party. If you move from
formal toward informal, you’re often suggesting that you feel (or
would like to feel) that your relationship with the recipient is
“warming.” Formal communications also send a signal that the
content of the message is official—that you wish the dealings in
question to be open, aboveboard, and not subject to manipula-
tion of any kind. Most contractual dealings are relatively formal.
Nonverbal communica-
tionTransmitting mes-
sages (communicating) with-
out using words. Nonverbal commu-
nication can happen through body
position and movement, posture, facial
expressions, clothing, behavior, and
other ways. Nonverbal messages have
the ability to replace, emphasize, or
contradict verbal messages.