Digital Body Language

April 1, 2021

The volume of email to be answered and the number of virtual communication channels to be monitored in today's working world are seemingly ever-increasing. The importance of communicating effectively in all of these spaces is now as important as doing so in person (if not more so). Dhawan (Get Big Things Done) seeks to help readers correctly decipher others' signals and project their own so that they are not misunderstood. In addition to explaining what this means and why it's useful, Dhawan details her four rules for communication--value visibly, communicate carefully, collaborate confidently, trust totally--and points out the ways in which differences of gender, generational group, or culture can influence communication. Some of the advice might not be appropriate for every workplace or profession (e.g., her suggestion to use all caps and multiple exclamation points to communicate urgency), but much of the content will be broadly applicable, in the vein of Thomas Zweifel's Communicate or Die and Kerry Patterson's Crucial Conversations. VERDICT Written in an approachable style, and organized such that readers can pick and choose sections that apply to their situation, this will be a useful resource for anyone who struggles with online communication.--Sara Holder, Univ. of Illinois Libs., Champaign

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April 1, 2021
Dhawan (Get Big Things Done, 2015), founder and CEO of collaboration-consulting group Cotential, offers this timely book on digital body language and creative ways to foster inclusion and belonging in digital communications in the workplace. Due to COVID-19, many people are working from home and are remotely engaging with their colleagues frequently. But in an online environment, tone, social cues, and body language can be difficult to interpret. How do we ""build greater trust, connection, and authenticity, allowing us to communicate better and build stronger relationships"" in the workplace? Dhawan shares examples from psychology to provide helpful anecdotes and ways to decode various communication cultures today. The book is a quick read, and many of its lessons can be applied immediately. The Digital Body Language Guidebook appendix is a helpful resource for reflecting on the questions and adopting steps and strategies to enhance one's communication approaches. Readers interested in workplace culture and communication skills will find this fascinating, helpful, and engaging.

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