Hang on before you hit the send button. As a leader, here are three areas that should NOT be done by email.
Correction. Someone on your team falls through on a task. Someone doesn’t meet expectations. Someone handles a situation incorrectly. Don’t hit the send button. This needs to be a face-to-face conversation.
Confrontation. Someone has a blind spot that is hurting others. Someone violates a core value. Someone is rude in a team meeting. Someone is habitually late. Don’t hit the send button. This needs to be a face-to-face conversation.
Conflict. Two people are upset at each other. There is division among some team members over an issue. A parent is upset over a team member’s words or actions. Don’t hit the send button. This needs to be a face-to-face conversaton.
Why not hit the send button in these situations?
1. Matthew 18 says to “go to the person.”
2. You can’t fully interpret a person’s mood or heart in an email.
3. An email may just escalate the situation.
4. Sitting down shows the person(s) that you value them enough to make time to talk in person.
5. You can pray together when you meet face-to-face.
6. It may be the quickest, easiest thing to do, but it’s not the best thing to do. Take the high road.
