The golden rule of virtual communication

One of the opportunity costs of operating in a virtual environment is that we miss out on the full range of human emotion.

Those winks, smiles and nods are replaced by squinting, frozen smiles and buffering nods. This forces you to work harder to figure out the other person’s expression. All of that can be emotional tasking.

Nick Morgan has studied the art and science of virtual connection extensively. Morgan says that when we’re not clear with our virtual expression, negative narratives can set in. 

So, people might start down the path of assumptions and miscommunication soon follows. For all of its benefits, virtual connection has a huge cost.

The solution is to be clear with our non-verbal communication. We need to take control of our virtual cues, for when we enunciate our communication (verbal and non-verbal) we get a little closer to clarity.