The Time Management Ninja server highlighted the following cases when it is most appropriate and also most productive to call.
1. Clear message
If you are to give someone exact instructions on how to do something, it is more appropriate to explain it verbally. Written communication can be confusing. The same applies to issues that involve emotions.
2. Personal issues
Whatever you write and send to someone, you can never be sure that it will not become a public matter. There is, of course, also the risk that your message will not be properly understood. Personal and particularly sensitive matters should be always addressed by phone.
3. Urgent matters
If something needs to be addressed immediately or you have something important to tell others, make a phone call. No one will appreciate your sending a message five minutes before the start of a non-scheduled meeting. They will simply not notice it.
4. Criticism and other negative messages
You should not express anything negative in writing. Recipients can't decode the tone of the message or your good intentions from the text. This is only possible in a personal conversation.
5. Too much writing
Do not waste time writing long messages when it is much quicker and easier to call and deliver the message verbally. When talking to someone in person, you can also better tell that they understand you.
-kk-