Summary

In this episode, Andy talks with Andrew Brodsky about his new book, Ping: The Secrets of Successful Virtual Communication. The discussion covers key topics, such as the impact of typos, the use of emojis and exclamation points, and the importance of timely responses.

Andrew highlights the pros and cons of different communication mediums, offering evidence-based recommendations on when to use email versus meetings, and the benefits of cameras on or off during virtual meetings. Practical advice is given on mimicking language to build trust, improving small talk to enhance virtual hallway interactions, and preparing younger generations for successful virtual communication.

If you're looking for insights on how to lead and more effectively when you're not face-to-face, this episode is for you!

Sound Bites

“Regardless of whether you work from home, the office, hybrid, anywhere in between, we're now all virtual communicators.”
“When you're writing an email, try to read the message in the opposite tone you intended.”
“The shorter meetings are and the fewer participants there are, the more engaging they are.”
“If it's a new relationship and you're trying to build trust, you're probably going to want your camera on.”
“Sometimes a 30-second text can build more team cohesion than a full hour of meeting time."
“We assume the recipient wants a response a lot quicker than they do.”
“Typos in angry emails made the person seem angrier, and in happy emails made them seem happier.”

Chapters

00:00 Introduction
01:39 Start of Interview
01:56 Andrew's Personal Story and Research
03:16 Defining Virtual Communication
04:53 The P of Ping: Perspective Taking
08:15 In-Person vs. Virtual Communication
11:14 Meeting Dynamics and Camera Use
16:09 Email Urgency and Response Expectations
21:34 Impact of Typos in Virtual Communication
22:58 Understanding Typos and Ambiguity in Virtual Communication
24:42 Using AI and Tools for Effective Communication
25:47 The Rise of Voice Notes and Their Impact
27:40 Emojis, Exclamation Points, and Language Mimicry
30:04 Bringing Small Talk into Virtual Interactions
32:48 Preparing Kids for Virtual Communication
35:13 End of Interview
35:40 Andy's Comments After the Interview
41:42 Outtakes

Learn More

You can learn more about Andrew and his book at ABrodsky.com.

For more learning on this topic, check out:

Episode 407 with Ben Guttman about his book Simply Put. It's an intriguing book on how to design clear messages.
Episode 332 with Kevin Eikenberry and Wayne Turmel about their book on virtual teams.
Episode 237 with Nick Morgan about his book on virtual communication.

Thank you for joining me for this episode of The People and Projects Podcast!

Talent Triangle: Power Skills

Topics: Virtual Communication, Email Etiquette, Remote Work, Leadership, Team Cohesion, Productivity, Small Talk, Emotional Intelligence, AI Tools, Generational Differences

The following music was used for this episode:

Music: The Fantastical Ferret by Tim Kulig
License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Music: Chillhouse by Frank Schroeter
License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

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PPP 457 | Virtual Communication Mistakes You Don’t Know You’re Making, with Andrew Brodsky