Is Your Message Getting Lost in Translation? It Might Be the Medium.

You send a text… No response.

You write what you think is a thoughtful email… you get back a confused response.

You finally jump on a Zoom call—only to realize you’ve been talking past each other all week.

What’s the problem?

It’s not always what you say that’s the issue. Sometimes it’s the way you send what you say.

In a world where we toggle back and forth between Slack, email, phone calls, texts and virtual meetings in a single day, it’s easy to forget that how we communicate shapes what gets understood.

Let’s break it down.

🔹 Texts: Quick, Efficient and Immediate

Texts are like fast food: quick, convenient, but often lacking in nutritional value.

Abbreviations, emojis, and brevity make texts efficient—but also ripe for misinterpretation. With little context, no facial expression, and no voice intonation, even simple messages can be misinterpreted.

What you gain: Speed.
What you lose: Nuance, tone, intention.

👉 “Sure.”

Is that agreement? Sarcasm? Resignation? You can’t tell unless you ask—and by then, it could already be too late.

🔹 Email: Space for more Words, but Still Room for Confusion

Email allows you to elaborate. You can give more context, clarify key points, structure the content, and edit. But tone and intent still fall into a gray area—which can be especially risky when the stakes are high.

Without body language or vocal cues, your well-intended message can be interpreted as cold, condescending, or too detailed or too vague.

What you gain: Context
What you lose: Emotional tone, immediate feedback.

A phrase like “Let’s discuss this later” can be collaborative—or feel like a brush-off—depending on how it’s received.

🔹 Phone: Voice but no Visual Cues

On a phone call, you gain vocal tone, pacing, and the ability to quickly clarify. You can adjust in real-time and pick up on emotional cues—if you’re listening closely.

But without body language and facial expression, it’s easy to miss subtle shifts in energy, attention, or discomfort.

What you gain: Tone, responsiveness.

What you lose: Visual cues that ground the message.

Have you ever heard someone say “I’m fine.” and you can hear the eye roll? (Think your teenage daughter). That's the tone doing the heavy lifting.

🔹 Virtual Calls: The Closest Thing to In-person (but not the same)

Video calls combine the best of all worlds: context, voice tone and facial expressions. You are able to see some body language (hands in the frame), hear voice tone, and respond in real time.

But even virtual calls have their limits—glitchy internet, distractions, and the ever-present temptation to multitask meaning your message still needs structure and clarity to land.

What you gain: Voice and visual cues.
What you still need: Intention, clarity, presence.

Virtual meetings work best when your message structure, delivery and tone are dialed in. A meandering message can still fall flat—even if you’re smiling on screen.

🧭 So What’s the Fix?

It’s about choosing the communication medium that suits your message and will help you accomplish your goal—it’s about being intentional with your message and your medium.

Ask yourself: 

• What am I trying to communicate? A quick update, or a complex idea?

• How much do they already know? Do context and tone matter?

• How will this message affect trust, the relationship, the outcome?

Pro tip:

If your message could be misinterpreted, cause disappointment, or have significant consequences, opt for the richest communication channel available. If in doubt, talk it out (voice or video).

🛠 Final Thought: Match the Medium to the Message

Communication is about more than just transmitting information. It’s about being heard, understood, and acknowledged.

And that doesn’t always happen in a text.

So before you hit send, ask yourself:
Will this make sense to the recipient? Or will I end up explaining it on a call tomorrow (and possibly digging myself out of a hole)?

✨ Choose the medium with as much care as you choose your words. It could save you a lot of time cleaning up miscommunications—and maybe even a relationship.