You’re doing it wrong: What digital psychology teaches us about communicating at work
We’ve all been there. That slightly passive-aggressive email. The awkward Zoom silence. The ‘seen’ but not responded to Slack message that lives rent-free in your brain. Welcome to the digital workplace, where communication is constant, but how it’s received is often lost in translation.
The shift to remote and hybrid work has changed not just how we work, but how our brains process communication. Enter: digital psychology. This is the study of how humans behave and interact in digital environments.
Let’s explore your digital body language and how to communicate a whole lot better.
It’s not what you say, it’s how you type it
An abrupt ‘OK.’ with a full stop can feel cold, clipped or even annoyed. But on the flip side, a wall of text can overwhelm. Without facial expressions, voice or body language, our brains work overtime trying to interpret what someone meant, and we often get it wrong.
How to manage it: Use intentional tone cues like ‘sounds good!’ or ‘let me know what you think’. Break long messages into digestible chunks for skim readers. Friendly punctuation is your friend!
Multitasking? Your brain can’t handle it, and your colleagues notice
Looking distracted, typing loudly or camera off (with no explanation) shows disengagement, even if you’re actually paying attention. In the digital world, where body language is limited to a tiny square on a screen, these subtle behaviours get magnified.
How to manage it: If you need to be off camera, say why. Try active listening cues such as nods, smiles, eye contact or the occasional thumbs-up emoji.
Not everything needs a meeting
Yes, we’ve all sat through “That” Meeting. The one that could’ve been a video, or a Slack thread or literally anything else. In digital psychology, meeting fatigue and Zoom burnout are no joke. Back-to-back calls suggest a lack of boundaries too.
How to manage it: Be ruthless with your meeting invites. Ask yourself: Does this need discussion, or just a decision? If it's the latter, a ping on Slack or a quick call or email might do the job faster. Always consider the best channel for your communication.
‘Seen’ but no response
In face-to-face conversations, a simple nod is enough to signal you’ve heard someone. In digital spaces, ‘seen’ with no reply can feel like ghosting, even when the person is just busy. Our brains have fewer social cues to rely on, so we fill in the blanks ourselves: ‘Are they ignoring me? Are they annoyed? Did I say something wrong?’
How to manage it: A quick acknowledgement ‘Got it - will reply soon!’ or use status indicators like ‘busy’ to let people know you’re unavailable.
Click me! Or don’t…
People decide whether to open or ignore an internal email based on the subject line alone. Our brains are wired to filter information fast so vague or generic subject lines may lead to low engagement.
How to manage it: Write subject lines that are specific and action-oriented. Also, front load the good stuff (especially for mobile users who only see the first few words in a preview).
Message fatigue is real
When communicating to employees, it’s easy to fall into ‘broadcast mode’, i.e. send out the newsletter, share the update, tick the box. But digital communication isn’t just about pushing messages. It’s about shaping understanding. Remember, the average employee receives dozens of messages daily. Too much noise leads to message fatigue. As a result, important messages can be buried.
How to manage it: Don’t send your comms to everyone. Be intentional about who, when and how often you communicate. Curate weekly round-ups and highlight only what matters. Always answer the golden question: “What’s in it for me?’
Type smarter, zoom softer and ping kinder
The way we show up digitally matters just as much as what we say. Digital psychology shapes how your message lands. When we communicate with intention, empathy and a little self-awareness, we create a workplace that’s not just connected, but genuinely human.