These days our lives are full of texts and e-mails and shared documents. Gone are the days of conducting most of your business over the phone. People have become reluctant to call and instead prefer to type up and e-mail or send out a text.

Despite our increased use of text-based communication, the phone call still reigns supreme in some aspects of business. When calling rather than typing, not only are you increasing your efficiency – you’re bringing back the human factor to your business communications.

Efficiency

Brainstorming is an important and integral part of business for a variety of reasons and phone calls can help make those ideas flow better. When people are talking casually the ideas get voiced even if they are maybe a little crazy – but that’s the point of brainstorming! Alternatively if you rely on text-based brainstorming you could be missing out on some ‘out there’ ideas that could be great for your business. Many people have a kind of ‘internal editor’ that switches on when they go to write ideas down. While helpful in some situations, it does more harm than good when brainstorming. If you need some ideas quick it’s best to pick up the phone and put down the keyboard.

Although many laud texting and e-mails as a faster way to communicate, phone calls can still be one of the fastest ways to get the information you need. These days everyone has their mobile phone with them all the time. Sure you could take the time to type out a text or e-mail on your phone and they’ll probably receive it on their phone. They may not be able to respond right away in the same fashion. For example it could just be too long of an answer to type out over the phone or they may not get e-mail sent to their phone.

But with just a few button presses you could call them up, ask, and they’d be able to give you the answer – probably in less time than it would take you to write your text or e-mail to them. And according to Rick Spence at Financial Post, e-mails can be easily ignored whereas a ringing phone is more likely to be answered. Texts and e-mails have their place but phone calls are a quick, painless way to get fast answers.

The Human Factor

The most beneficial aspect of phone calls is, without a doubt, the human factor. The biggest problem with texting and e-mailing is that a key part of communication is lost: tone. The tone someone uses when saying something can vastly change the meaning, so if you can’t hear the tone you are missing important context. With phone calls this is not a problem! You can easily tell just by their tone of voice if the person is exasperated or pleased. You can use this emotional information to figure out what you need to do to please the customer or alleviate the situation.

This makes phone calls the more productive choice of communication; you don’t have to go back and forth with e-mails trying to suss out the details or figure out what the customer really wants. Stevie Ray at The Business Journals explains that this is why we so frequently see an over-abundance of exclamation marks in e-mails; it is an attempt to insert emotion where there usually is none.

It may sometimes take a little bit longer to hash out the details over the phone but in that amount of time you will have more than just the strict details – you’ll have a better idea about how the other person feels which can help you give them what they want. Phone calls key you in to a person’s emotions, letting you get and give information more productively.

Phone calls can also be useful when working with colleagues or customers who aren’t as technology savvy. Everyone is familiar with how to use and communicate with a phone so using it as your go-to communication means you won’t be leaving anyone out. According to US Census data, nearly 75% of all households have internet access at home, whereas nearly 91% have cell phone subscriptions.

By using the communication method that more people have access to, you increase customers’ access to you. Also using phone calls to communicate with people who rather not use texts or e-mails, you’re building a rapport with them. Hearing a real human voice can reassure people and give them confidence in your business and you as a person. By hearing your voice people will be more able to identify and remember you.

Remember – just because you can text or e-mail doesn’t always mean you should.Use that phone!

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