Analysis: Why Long Phone Calls Absolutely Suck

As someone that spends a significant amount of time on the phone for work, I've developed a deep-seated disdain for long phone calls, so I thought of sharing a few sources of my frustration. Firstly, phone calls are consequential in comparison to other modes of conversation.

During an in-person conversation, the body language and facial expressions contribute towards 55% of the communication. On phone calls, however, you're blind to those cues. Then there's eye contact, which is a crucial element in establishing trust and fostering engagement, another casualty in the realms of telephonic conversations.

Now, on to the notion that 'Phone calls humanize the communication process', is rather counter-intuitive. The lack of pronounced context, hampered by the absence of non-verbal cues, often results in our brains working overtime, leading to incorrect assumptions and misconstructions of the messages conveyed.

Lastly, the belief that phone calls are expeditious modes of communication doesn't always hold true. Oftentimes, what could've been expressed succinctly through a text email or message, extends to an unnecessarily drawn-out phone call.

In essence, long phone calls suck, however, they're a necessary evil in some scenarios. Though it's crucial to identify when a phone call is the best method of communication and when it simply unnecessarily extends the time needed to communicate.

Submitted 1 year ago by KnowitallNick