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# Pick. Up. The. Phone.
- URL: https://www.philsimon.com/pick-up-the-phone/
- Published: 2014-12-10T13:43:34.000Z
- Updated: 2025-06-14T19:18:04.000Z
- Description: Relying exclusively on e-mail is rarely wise.
- Author: Phil Simon
- Tags: Communication, Email, Message Not Received, Seinfeld

![](https://i.imgur.com/eSPy2dU.jpg)

Everyone at one point has received an e-mail (or 500) and thought, "What's wrong with \[insert name\]?" As a medium, [e-mail invites misunderstanding](https://www.fastcodesign.com/3036748/evidence/why-its-so-hard-to-detect-emotion-in-emails-and-texts?ref=philsimon.com). It gives the appearance of in-person communication sans critical non-verbal cues.

Studies have found that the context and emotion of in our e-mails are only fully received about 50 percent of the time. Yes, its a coin flip. It's a major point in [my forthcoming book](https://www.philsimon.com/books/message-not-received/).

## Looking Beyond the Data

I can cite stats like these all day long, but I find that stories are often just as valuable in making salient points, perhaps more so.

I recently interviewed [Marillion](https://www.marillion.com/?ref=philsimon.com) keyboardist [Mark Kelly](https://www.huffingtonpost.com/phil-simon/is-spotify-fair-to-musici%5Fb%5F6159866.html?ref=philsimon.com). We chatted a bit before recording, talking about football, boxing, and e-mail as a communications medium. Kelly revealed something that shocked me a bit: Even for a band that's been together for more than three decades, e-mail occasionally engenders misunderstandings. Let me repeat that: Guys who have known each other for a really, really long time communicate better in person compared to rattling off electronic messages.

What does that say about communications among new employees?

> E-mail ≠ Understanding

This doesn't mean that e-mail is inherently ineffective or inimical. On the contrary, it's an extremely useful but limited medium. Relying exclusively on it is rarely wise. Sometimes talking is a good idea.

## Simon Says

Pick. Up. The. Phone.