What Your Choice of Channel Says to Your Valentine

The Rom-Com genre is rife with the consequences of miscommunication. Whether it be misreading the intention of a text message or overhearing a conversation out of context – some of the greatest stories ever told are rooted in understanding the different ways we communicate. In the real world, these differences have never been more pronounced. Between voice, video and messaging on top of individual generational preferences, truly concise communication has become something of an art form.

Interestingly, in the workplace, collaboration has evolved in direct response to the host of options available. To avoid any mix-ups, the enterprise has in fact embraced the different ways employees work – giving ample opportunity to customize communication styles that best fits them. The more comfortable an individual is with a specific channel, the more likely they are to understand corresponding nuances and cues. For example, consider Baby Boomers who aren’t native to chat like their Millennial or App generation counterparts – or conversely, Millennials who prefer to avoid phone calls. Rather than force any of these groups to rely on a single method, businesses are letting them carve out their own niche.

In celebration of Valentine’s Day, we took a look at the most popular channel of communication to dissect the subtle and not-so-subtle message that each imply to whomever your Valentine may be:

• Text Message / Chat. Valentine’s Day isn’t just for those with significant others – it’s an opportunity to express appreciation for the people in your life such as siblings or close friends – a simple text message is a quick and easy to demonstrate that appreciation. You can take it a step further and make it a group chat, so all of your Valentines can feel the love.

• Phone Call. In today’s communication environment, a phone call is a more personal way to celebrate with your Valentine. Phone calls are still the most popular among older generations, so don’t underestimate the value of calling your parents, grandparents and extended family. If your Valentine lives in a different part of the country, a phone call is also an effective way to communicate that you’re thinking of them, despite the geographical distance.

• Face-to-face. Regardless of the tools that we use to connect with one another – in the workplace or otherwise – nothing quite captures our intention like face-to-face communication. Fuze’s Breaking Barriers 2020 revealed that 86 percent of employees surveyed say that face-to-face interactions will always be important. If you have someone particularly important to wish a Happy Valentine’s Day, doing so in person will most authentically capture what they mean to you.

What channel will you be using to send well wishes to you Valentine? Let us know @Fuze!