Voice Memos and Meaningful Communication
I turn down most media requests these days as I rarely have time and most requests are last minute—or ultra cheesy! I care less about dishing the dirt on someone and more about people learning; most requests ask me to dish the dirt. This week, however, I was happy and able to again work with Shona Hendley from Body + Soul magazine on the topic of voice memos.
As you can tell by the title, Why I think voice memos need to become extinct, Shona isn’t a fan. What do you think of them? Comment below.
I don’t mind them—within reason. Some are so long that I need to set aside time to sit down and take notes, so my response is often delayed (sorry Auntie). It’s sometimes easier to call back instead of responding. In other cases, they are great for people with vision impairment, making life easier for them—my dad included. They are, of course, great for conveying emotion.
Shona asked for my comments on a few questions, which you can read below. You can find out why Shona thinks voice memos should become extinct in the Body + Soul article here…
Why I think voice memos need to become extinct
Why do you think the voice memo is gaining popularity as a mode of communication, especially for Gen Z and millennials?
For many, it comes down to convenience. We’re living in a world where there’s so much going on that convenience matters. Voice memos can help the user communicate a message more efficiently–messaging becomes faster without needing to stop and type. However, it isn’t always the most effective means to deliver a message; if misused, the message, or parts of it, can be missed.
What positives are there to voice memos?
There are many benefits to using voice memos, depending on the individual and context. As well as making sending a message quicker and easier for the user, they are helpful for people with poor vision and when practising a spoken language, for example, when communicating with friends and family in another country.
One of the most significant advantages is the added layer of communication; hearing the tone of the message reveals more information to the listener, adding emotion. Pitch, speed, intonation, volume and inflexion help the receiver understand the message's meaning, so messages are more likely to be interpreted correctly. Text messages can be misinterpreted because the vocal delivery component is absent. For this reason, a voice memo may be the best way to deliver a message in situations where emotion is essential, for example, during an apology where conveying sincerity is important. How we deliver our words vocally can escalate or diffuse the discussion.
From another perspective, spoken words are less edited than text messages. With more room for error, they can be more honest, revealing true feelings. Hearing emotions and verbal slips may benefit the receiver in discerning honesty. And text messages can be more beneficial to the sender when getting the correct wording is essential. We often read over a text message and edit it before sending it; with voice memos, there isn't usually that opportunity.
What negatives are there about choosing voice memos to communicate over a call, text, or other communication types?
Longer voice memos can be a problem, especially when many messages are lumped into one. It’s a bit like someone talking at you incessantly without you being able to interject or clarify the meaning. Unlike a call, it’s one-way communication. Unless the receiver takes notes, parts of the message are likely to be missed, and information is less likely to be remembered. A text or a call for longer messages may be more effective communication. Although it all comes down to context, a longer voice memo may be preferable for someone who doesn’t feel heard—an opportunity to say what they need without interruption.
In some circumstances, listening to a voice memo might not be appropriate and responding may be delayed. For example, if you’re somewhere without earphones and don’t want to broadcast the message to others. It can also be easier to re-read text messages over re-listening to voice memos in situations where you need more time to absorb a message.
What makes communication meaningful? Are there certain elements it should have to be considered meaningful? What are they?
What makes meaningful communication depends on the individuals, context and goal of the conversation. In some situations, it might mean gaining a deeper understanding of someone or something; in others, it might mean reaching a common goal or coming out of a conversation feeling positive. In some circumstances, there might be a pre-determined purpose to the conversation; in other cases, a more general conversation may lead to an unexpectedly meaningful conversation. For example, the conversation may become more profound when you meet someone for the first time and realise you have commonalities.
Surprisingly, most communication between close people is not meaningful; instead, it is primarily functional.
Meaningful communication can only take place when two (or more) people are open to the conversation, which isn’t always the case, so trust and feelings of comfort are critical elements. Meaningful communication requires active listening, openness to ideas or a common goal, and honesty about feelings.
Meaningful communication is often better in face-to-face contexts where more communication channels are present, such as body language, vocal delivery and verbal communication. This provides a broader view and, therefore, a better understanding of thoughts, feelings and emotions. Therefore, when someone says something that appears to conflict with their true feelings, as perceived in nonverbal behaviours, the listener can circle back and tease out a more honest response.
