Silence in your inbox? It’s not rejection. It’s a sign to rethink how you connect.
I’ve learned this the hard way in global supply chains, where emails cross not just time zones but cultural zones too. At first, I thought silence meant disinterest. But often, it meant something else entirely.
Here’s what I now know:
- If there’s no response for days, chances are your email wasn’t read. Send a note via messenger instead.
- Urgency and email don’t mix. If it’s urgent, pick up the phone. If it’s VERY urgent, call again (and again).
- Not everyone enjoys typing. Written communication isn’t universal. Use the audio function in messengers.
- Consider language skills. A message in their native language can work wonders.
And then there’s the cultural layer.
For instance, in Germany, I grew up with the mindset that work always comes first. But in other places, family might take priority. If a supplier in Morocco doesn’t reply because he is taking his mother to the doctor, that’s not neglect – it’s values in action.
Even language itself can surprise you. I once only coincidently discovered that “sexual harassment” was mistranslated as “sexual intercourse” in an AI-generated language version of our worker app in lao. The local translator didn’t catch it either – because they misunderstood the English term in the first place.
Moments like these have taught me that clear communication isn’t just a skill – it’s a foundation for collaboration. It’s about more than words; it’s about trust, cultural awareness, and a willingness to adapt.
In the end, smooth communication only happens when we dare to look beyond our own frame !