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Submitted by ShipShape on
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I work remotely. I have a few peers with whom I sporadically communicate via phone...and I share peer feedback those folks verbally whenever possible.

I also have MANY peers with whom email and online messenger is the preferred (or typical) communication vehicle. I often have positive peer feedback to share with them. I realize sharing it verbally would be best, but it seems incredibly awkward to call a peer for this purpose when we otherwise rarely communicate via phone. Also, I'm sharing positive far more than negative. Then again, I don't want to share negative feedback via email, so I'm picking up the phone for those (less frequent) occasions.

Curious if folks believe that sharing positive feedback via email or instant messenger seems acceptable in this environment.

techmgr's picture
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Hi, I have been in your shoes. All of my peers were remote for years. I cannot think of a way to give even positive feedback - using the MT peer feedback model - in email. The model is supposed to have a tone that is relaxed, easy and casual. I can't imagine constructing an email using the model that has this tone. That doesn't keep you from giving positive feedback in email, just don't try to use the MT peer feedback model. 

That said, I strongly recommend you find a way to have regular, casual, non-awkward phone conversations with your remote peers. If you are looking for ways to give them feedback, I'm guessing that your success is dependent upon having good relationships with them. In my experience it is not possible to build those relationships over email. And I hate talking on the phone. My preferred form of communication is always written. In my experience working with almost exclusively remote peers for 6 years, phone - and video chat - is necessary to build relationships. And there's no sense even trying to give feedback to a peer with whom you don't have a relationship. 

hope this helps - Jeanne

techmgr's picture
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I didn't see the second half of your last sentence until now. My advice stands. By all means use IM to provide positive feedback in IM. But I still don't think that the peer feedback model works. The words are awkward when printed, I dont see how to get the intended tone in writing. I do recommend IM to fill in the gap between infrequent phone or video chat and regular emails. IM is great for quick positive feedback in the form of "thanks for Y, it really helped me with X". In my opinion it just isn't as effective as having regular phone conversations with your peers.