PPP 457 | Virtual Communication Mistakes You Don’t Know You’re Making, with Andrew Brodsky

In this episode, Andy talks with Andrew Brodsky about his new book, Ping: The Secrets of Successful Virtual Communication. The discussion covers key topics, such as the impact of typos, the use of emojis and exclamation points, and the importance of timely responses.

Andrew highlights the pros and cons of different communication mediums, offering evidence-based recommendations on when to use email versus meetings, and the benefits of cameras on or off during virtual meetings. Practical advice is given on mimicking language to build trust, improving small talk to enhance virtual hallway interactions, and preparing younger generations for successful virtual communication.

If you're looking for insights on how to lead and more effectively when you're not face-to-face, this episode is for you!

• “Regardless of whether you work from home, the office, hybrid, anywhere in between, we're now all virtual communicators.”
• “When you're writing an email, try to read the message in the opposite tone you intended.”
• “The shorter meetings are and the fewer participants there are, the more engaging they are.”
• “If it's a new relationship and you're trying to build trust, you're probably going to want your camera on.”
• “Sometimes a 30-second text can build more team cohesion than a full hour of meeting time."
• “We assume the recipient wants a response a lot quicker than they do.”
• “Typos in angry emails made the person seem angrier, and in happy emails made them seem happier.”

• 00:00 Introduction
• 01:39 Start of Interview
• 01:56 Andrew's Personal Story and Research
• 03:16 Defining Virtual Communication
• 04:53 The P of Ping: Perspective Taking
• 08:15 In-Person vs. Virtual Communication
• 11:14 Meeting Dynamics and Camera Use
• 16:09 Email Urgency and Response Expectations
• 21:34 Impact of Typos in Virtual Communication
• 22:58 Understanding Typos and Ambiguity in Virtual Communication
• 24:42 Using AI and Tools for Effective Communication
• 25:47 The Rise of Voice Notes and Their Impact
• 27:40 Emojis, Exclamation Points, and Language Mimicry
• 30:04 Bringing Small Talk into Virtual Interactions
• 32:48 Preparing Kids for Virtual Communication
• 35:13 End of Interview
• 35:40 Andy's Comments After the Interview
• 41:42 Outtakes

You can learn more about Andrew and his book at ABrodsky.com.

For more learning on this topic, check out:

• Episode 407 with Ben Guttman about his book Simply Put. It's an intriguing book on how to design clear messages.
• Episode 332 with Kevin Eikenberry and Wayne Turmel about their book on virtual teams.
• Episode 237 with Nick Morgan about his book on virtual communication.

Thank you for joining me for this episode of The People and Projects Podcast!

Talent Triangle: Power Skills

Topics: Virtual Communication, Email Etiquette, Remote Work, Leadership, Team Cohesion, Productivity, Small Talk, Emotional Intelligence, AI Tools, Generational Differences

The following music was used for this episode:

Music: The Fantastical Ferret by Tim Kulig License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Music: Chillhouse by Frank Schroeter License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license