The Power of a Phone Call

Does this sound familiar? You trade emails back and forth all day long only to find that everyone involved is still confused about the task at hand. This isn’t uncommon. While email and other chat platforms are critical to getting business done, sometimes nothing beats just picking up the good ole’ phone. 

Not only can you resolve in minutes what might’ve taken hours to clarify via email–it’s also not uncommon for background details to come to light on the phone that never would’ve otherwise. From additional context around a situation to details that (person A) didn’t think were relevant to (person B), sometimes the open ended-nature of a phone call brings about important information that wouldn’t have been communicated through an email or chat function.  

So what’s holding people back from picking up the phone? Well, it’s widely known that younger generations have a certain disdain for phone calls – which some might even classify as ‘telephonophobia’. Yes it’s a real thing – it’s the reluctance or fear of placing phone calls. Growing up in a digital world has decreased the need for phone calls, making Millennials and Gen Z more anxious than older generations when it comes to talking on the phone. According to Business.com, a 2019 study evaluating U.K. office workers reported that “76% of millennials experience anxiety about speaking on the phone, compared to 40% of baby boomers.”

Some professionals may have been forced to face their fears in light of COVID-19. Phone and virtual video calls have become standard practice more than ever before. While platforms like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and GoToMeeting have become even more widely used – sometimes even those tools can create an added level of fog. “I used the virtual meeting room password, but it didn’t work.” “Sorry I missed the meeting, the call admin never let me in.” “For some reason Zoom won’t let me download the updated version...” We’re all familiar with these lines, and complications like these can further complicate communication at times.  

All communication platforms have their value, but sometimes it helps to just pick up the dang phone. There’s power in a phone call – and not everyone is willing to make one, which can ultimately benefit those who are.