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Email Doesn’t Always Get Delivered

on a One-Way Street

· Communication,Expectations,Conflict,Work Styles,Stress

Not too long ago, I had a conversation with a service provider. They claimed to have sent me an email, with significant information, about two months prior to my contacting them - which I never received. Instead, I learned of the information via regular mail from a third party. When I called to discuss this with the service provider, the response was “since I didn’t hear back from you, I assumed everything was all right”.

Well, we all know why assuming is dangerous. Their response was defensive. They went on to say that they are short staffed and this happens sometimes. The part that was troubling to me was that just because one sends an email, it doesn’t mean that it’s received. This can also happen with a voicemail. Technology has its quirks and messages sent are not always read or heard. Email doesn’t always get delivered on a one-way street.

“The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.” – George Bernard Shaw