Looking back at the work culture of the 20th century, people expressed hostility or displeasure through overt actions such as slamming the door, throwing papers in the air, or just yelling out loud. Today, such insults are hidden behind a text message or an email.

Work environments reverberate underlying tension between boss and employee, and among coworkers themselves, that in an externally peaceful ambience, the remarks via texts and mails speak louder than the silence.

Language: Says all about you

‘Passive aggressive tech’ refers to the covert expressions of anger, hostility and displeasure through communication tools widely used in the workplace. This is the transition of passive aggression moving from a straightforward in-person conversation to a cryptic email on the screen.

This forces users into a state of hypervigilance, as they try to decipher the tone behind the ‘okay’. A punctuation mark that is usually considered inconsequential in text messages seems to grip the attention of the receiver when used in a one-word reply, as it could mean that the sender was being too serious, or cold. It can also be interpreted as the sender suppressing irritation.

When including emoticons in messages, a simple ‘thumbs up’ may be interpreted as a dismissal of the content previously discussed. Misunderstanding of content becomes highly likely when a response is seen to convey more than what it physically does.

Conversations: Go verbal when you can

Face-to-face conversations minimise misinterpretations, as the brain quickly catches on verbal cues such as tone and dialect, and non-verbal cues such as facial expressions and actions. This also allows both the parties to clarify and correct each other in case of a misunderstanding in the context of content.

The lack of clarity in communication in email or chat rooms creates a strain in the overall relationships of employees and functioning in the workplace as there exists the risk of ‘over-interpretation’.

Decoding the meaning to a response can be mentally taxing, causing cognitive and emotional fatigue. It may even lead to more anxiety while trying to understand the intent behind a usually-considered-normal message from a boss. In such a case, a quick phone call regarding the content discussed and tasks to be completed can help to a great extent.

Texting: Robs your energy and time

The age of passive aggressive tech pulls modern employees into a loop where cross-checking previous conversations to understand the tone and structure of texts before sending a new message becomes necessary; and this steals valuable time and energy.

It is essential that effort is taken to reverse passive aggressive tech to open conversation channels that do not give room for hostility or anonymity of emotional cues. Establishing clear communication strategies in the workplace will help to drastically reduce the anxiety associated with sending that one text message.

Assuming that a sender means goodwill eliminates the supposition they may mean something curt or hostile. It is to arrive at the understanding that not everyone wants to be instructive or corrective all the time.

If a conversation over text requires more than four exchanges, getting on a quick phone call to clarify the matter at hand will save you from the paranoia of interpreting the tone and emotion behind the messages. Hearing the human voice provides the clarity no emoticon can give.

Empathy: Makes you a winner

As a team leader or even a member of a team, expressing yourself with emotional vulnerability always makes a conversation flow smoothly. When informing about a team meeting to be scheduled, phrase it in a manner that communicates to the employees that they do not have to fret or worry about anything.

Instead of saying ‘Team meeting tomorrow at 10’ and leaving it there, say, ‘Team meeting tomorrow at 10 – nothing’s wrong, just catching up on the progress so far!’ A simple change in the sentence goes a long way in removing the suspense of the outcome that awaits. A happy workplace starts with healthy communication, which stems from intentional empathy and a positive mind. – Image credit: freepik – editor@nrifocus.com

– The writer is a counselling psychologist, specialising in mindfulness therapy and researching the quirks of life.