Have you noticed how much phone calling in general has dropped in the last year or two? When I first started doing project management about 6 years ago, it seemed as half of my time involved being on the phone. Either I was receiving calls, making calls, or sitting on way too many conference calls. In between time, you nervously kept expecting the phone to ring to interrupt you.

Then about 2 years ago, I noticed a drop in incoming calls. I certainly was personally striving for more succinct emails to thwart interminable phone calling. Maybe others have been doing that to. Or maybe the cause is collective calling exhaustion or the downturn in general economic activity, but whatever the case I embrace this change as a change for the better. A better email on most routine business items is far more efficient than another phone call. A little more work up-front, but more than makes-up in saved follow-up work.

Now whatever still needs and should be handled by phone (e.g. delicate news, very sensitive information, special human touch for encouragement) is no longer drowned out by the cacophony of incessant conference calls. What’s left for the phone now gets better attention.