How Do You Communicate With Co-Workers in the Office?

March 30, 2009

Instant messenger and email have made in-person communication with co-workers optional at many offices. I believe it's important to get some face time with your colleagues, but usually it's more efficient and seemingly less intrusive to use online options. How do you most frequently communicate with the other people in your office?

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20 Comments

aimeeb 4 years 7 weeks

Email mostly, if I can avoid them that's great. Ha.

Phorrest99 4 years 7 weeks

I'll use email or try to track someone down in person. I work with a bunch of (mad) scientists who aren't always checking their email so I've found that it's sometimes easier to talk to them in person.

cvandoorn 4 years 7 weeks

Email and phone. Sometimes both to confirm and to get it in writing. Would be nice to talk face-to-face, but would hate to feel like i'm intruding or bothering somebody.

Spectra 4 years 7 weeks

In the lab, I just talk to whoever I need to talk to in person because it's a shared space and we're all looking at things on microscopes, so if we need second opinions, we just call another scientist over to take a look. When we need to contact nurses, physicians, or lab personnel at other locations, we use the phone or we page them.

bluebellknoll 4 years 7 weeks

There are only 2 people here - the owner and me - and our offices are right next to each other so we talk face-to-face. Sometimes I will also use the intercom when I'm feeling lazy. :P

mek123 4 years 7 weeks

How about all of the above? My company is world-wide and depending on who I'm communicating with I use a different mode. Mainly IM and email.

wmoonw 4 years 7 weeks

I can't get ahold of most of the people I work with unless I track them down and camp their office; they're all too busy.

bellaressa 4 years 7 weeks

I do a combination of e-mail and phone.

Antioxidant 4 years 7 weeks

Face to face, over the phone, or intercom.

soccerkim 4 years 7 weeks

My boss called me when I was next door to her office, too, ValancyJane! I always thought that was so weird.

bengalspice 4 years 7 weeks

A combination of in person and email. Depends on how close the person is located to my desk.

valancyjane 4 years 7 weeks

E-mail or in person. But my boss will call me on the phone even though we sit about 4 feet from each other. And if I'm not there she leaves me a voice mail. I hate it. Totally agree with CG, by the way, that sometimes e-mail is far and away the best because then you have a record of what was said. There are some people on my team who I always, always e-mail, because I need to keep track of what they've told me (so I can prove that they lied later. Ha!).

starangel82 4 years 7 weeks

Our corporation is so scattered all over the place it's ridiculous. I use email the most. Here in my office though, shouting over the cubicles and in and out of offices tends to be the most popular method (which drives me BATTY). I at least get up and go talk to the person.

luna08 4 years 7 weeks

Email and in-person. I try to do as much as I can in-persone since people are more inclined to do what you ask if you're standing in front of them. Sometimes I'll send a email (for a hard copy) and than walk down the hall and discuss/address it in person.

syako 4 years 7 weeks

I'd say email. Just because I like to have a record of things and I've noticed a lot of people just gloss over actual conversations and forget to do what is talked about. A lot of time I'll talk with a coworker, then send a follow up email.

bunnyOhare 4 years 7 weeks

There wasn't an "other" option above. We're in a fairly small office and we're all on the upstairs floor, so we either yell loudly (heh) or page over our phone's intercom. Then there are the random drop in's to someone's desk. Email is rarely used. If someone isn't available, we're more likely to send them a text message instead.

ilanac13 4 years 7 weeks

i talk to my asst through IM since it's easier that telling her things. she tends not to listen to ppl so the only way to get her to remember to do anything is to write it for her. as for my boss- i go over and talk to her. she's more of an in-person type who likes to status all the time.

MrsRachel 4 years 7 weeks

I generally email. As the receptionist, I don't have a lot of freedom to move around, but I would prefer to a lot more in person! (Although, CaterpillarGirl is correct, it is a good idea to have a hard copy of various business transactions...no mater how seemingly insignificant. :-)