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Erica Dhawan20 February 2023

Erica Dhawan: Digital Body Language, Effective Communication Strategies for the Digital Age

8Frameworks
12Insights

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Frameworks in this episode

Leadership3 steps

Affinity Distance

It's not physical distance that breaks teams — it's the distance in trust, shared values, and candor.

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Communication4 steps

Digital Body Language

The handshake, head nod, and lean-in have been replaced by response time, channel choice, and punctuation.

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Communication3 steps

Maniacal Clarity: Think Before You Type

The new version of think-before-you-speak is think-before-you-type.

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Leadership3 steps

Radical Recognition

The great resignation was partly a failure of great recognition — rebuild appreciation as a digital ritual.

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Productivity3 steps

Response-Time Norms and Subject-Line Signals

Encode urgency into shared acronyms and subject lines so people prioritize thoughtfully, not hastily.

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Productivity3 steps

The Three-Factor Channel Test: Complexity, Urgency, Frequency

Stop having the meeting that should've been an email — pick the channel by complexity, urgency, and frequency.

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Leadership3 steps

The Video Host Thinks Like a TV Show Host

A great video-call host runs the room like a TV host — set the segments, call on people, and cut them off politely.

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Communication3 steps

Think Before You Emoji

Emojis are the new facial expressions — deploy them by reading power dynamic and trust.

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Insights & moments

The myth-busts, hot takes, explainers, and tools worth keeping.

Myth Buster· 1

Myth Buster12:30

70% of Communication Isn't Lost—It's Transformed

While it's often said that 70% of communication is nonverbal, Erica clarifies that in digital environments, those cues don’t disappear—they transform. The challenge is recognizing and adapting to new signals like response time and message clarity.

  • 70% of communication is nonverbal, but 70% of workplace communication is now digital.
  • Nonverbal cues exist digitally through timing, tone, and formatting.
  • Misunderstandings arise when leaders don’t adapt to digital norms.
  • Digital cues can be more inclusive when used intentionally.

“We are emailing, we are conference calling... we are digitally communicating with our colleagues on the same floor in the same office.”

Erica Dhawan · 13:20
#communication-myths#digital-cues#nonverbal-communication#hybrid-work

Explainer· 6

Explainer04:30

What Is Digital Body Language?

Erica defines digital body language as the new set of signals replacing traditional physical cues like handshakes and eye contact in virtual and hybrid work environments. It includes response times, channel choice, punctuation, and emoji use—all shaping how we perceive respect, empathy, and urgency.

  • Digital body language replaces physical cues in remote communication.
  • Includes response time, communication channel, writing tone, and formatting.
  • Punctuation and emojis convey tone and emotional intent.
  • Clear writing is the new empathy; careful reading is the new listening.

“Reading messages carefully is the new listening. Writing clearly is the new empathy.”

Erica Dhawan · 05:20
#digital-communication#remote-work#empathy#virtual-teams
Explainer16:30

Best Practices for Video Call Body Language

Erica shares actionable tips for effective video meeting conduct, including setting clear agendas, mandating video at key moments, using breakout rooms, and assigning roles like note-taker to ensure alignment and inclusion.

  • Send agendas with success criteria to set expectations.
  • Require video for first 5–10 minutes to build connection.
  • Use breakout rooms to engage introverts and junior staff.
  • Assign a remote host in hybrid meetings to reduce proximity bias.

“Zoom or video call hosts need to think like TV show hosts.”

Erica Dhawan · 17:50
#zoom-meetings#video-communication#meeting-norms#hybrid-work
Explainer26:30

Choosing the Right Communication Channel

Erica outlines a framework for selecting communication channels based on complexity, urgency, and frequency. High complexity calls for video; low urgency allows for email or Slack with clear response expectations.

  • Complex topics: use video calls with agendas and follow-up recaps.
  • Urgency determines channel—text for within the hour, email for 24 hours.
  • Set norms: Slack responses expected same business day, not midnight.
  • Use subject lines with urgency markers like '2H' (2 hours) or '4D' (4 days).

“Two H meant I need this in two hours. Four D means this is due in four days.”

Erica Dhawan · 31:45
#communication-channels#email-etiquette#slack#response-time
Explainer34:00

Why Reading Carefully Is the New Listening

Due to screen reading habits, people skim more and comprehend less. Erica emphasizes that taking time to read messages carefully signals respect and prevents miscommunication in digital-first workplaces.

  • People comprehend less when reading on screens versus print.
  • Skimming leads to missed context and assumptions.
  • Careful reading shows you value the sender’s time and message.
  • A quick 'yes' in response can feel devaluing without context.

“Taking the time to read carefully is almost like the new head nod. I hear you. I value your time. I'm with you.”

Erica Dhawan · 37:10
#digital-communication#reading-skills#workplace-etiquette#clarity
Explainer37:00

Writing Clearly Is the New Empathy

Erica argues that in digital communication, clear, thoughtful writing is a form of respect. Leaders must provide context, clarify asks, and avoid vague messages to ensure team members feel supported and understood.

  • Clear writing prevents confusion and rework.
  • Include who, what, when, why, and response expectations.
  • Vague messages like 'What are your thoughts?' create anxiety.
  • Empathy is shown through structure, tone, and recognition.

“Taking the time to write clearly is the new empathy.”

Erica Dhawan · 37:20
#writing-skills#empathy#leadership#clarity
Explainer43:00

Why Emojis and Punctuation Shape Tone

In the absence of facial expressions, emojis and punctuation serve as emotional cues. A period can feel harsh to digital natives, while emojis can signal warmth and appreciation—especially from leaders.

  • Emojis replace smiles and laughter in written communication.
  • Periods in texts can feel passive-aggressive to younger workers.
  • Match the other person’s style—mirror their emoji and punctuation use.
  • Context and trust determine how formal or informal to be.

“There's actually a study that showed that if you put a period at the end of a text message, digital natives often think that means…”

Erica Dhawan · 45:20
#emojis#tone#punctuation#digital-natives

Story· 2

Story01:00

How Shyness Led to Mastering Body Language

Erica Dhawan shares how growing up as a shy, introverted child of Indian immigrants who spoke Hindi at home made her hyper-observant of nonverbal cues. Struggling with accented English at school, she learned to decode body language to bridge social gaps, which later became foundational to her expertise in communication.

  • Grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, speaking Hindi at home and struggling with accented English at school.
  • Was extremely shy and rarely spoke up in class despite earning top grades.
  • Learned to observe body language of peers to understand social dynamics and fit in.
  • This early sensitivity to nonverbal signals shaped her career in communication.

“I was the shyest kid in the class. Raising my hand, calling attention to myself was unimaginable to me.”

Erica Dhawan · 01:20
#body-language#personal-story#childhood-experience#communication-skills
Story08:50

When Digital Cues Undermine Empathy

Erica recounts coaching an executive who excelled in in-person empathy—eye contact, active listening—but whose digital behavior (abrupt emails, last-minute cancellations) made her seem dismissive and disrespectful to remote team members.

  • Executive had strong traditional empathy markers in person.
  • Sent low-context, urgent emails and canceled virtual meetings last minute.
  • Team felt demoralized despite her in-person warmth.
  • Digital actions often outweigh in-person impressions in hybrid settings.

“While her traditional body language signals of empathy were great, her digital body language was abysmal.”

Erica Dhawan · 09:50
#empathy#hybrid-work#leadership#team-dynamics

Q&A· 1

Q&A55:50

How to Spot Disengaged Employees

Erica identifies signs of disengagement: delayed responses, silence in meetings, and reluctance to share bad news. She recommends creating psychological safety and focusing on 'joyful engagement' instead of 'quiet quitting.'

  • Delayed or no responses to expected communications.
  • Silence during meetings despite facilitation efforts.
  • Avoidance of sharing challenges or negative feedback.
  • Ask directly: 'What’s one piece of bad news I normally wouldn’t hear?'

“Let's not talk about quiet quitting. Let's talk about the opposite. What does joyful engagement look like?”

Erica Dhawan · 57:40
#employee-engagement#disengagement#psychological-safety#leadership

Tool· 1

Tool53:00

How to Practice Radical Recognition

Erica advocates for intentional, visible recognition in digital teams—through shout-outs, video messages, birthday calls, and mental health breaks—to replace lost in-person moments of appreciation.

  • Weekly virtual shout-outs for specific contributions.
  • Leaders sending video thank-yous or calling employees on birthdays.
  • Meeting-free mornings as a form of recognition.
  • Creating rituals that make people feel seen beyond their output.

“One boss called every single one of his employees on their birthdays. He had 1600 employees.”

Erica Dhawan · 54:10
#recognition#team-culture#leadership#employee-engagement

Takeaway· 1

Takeaway58:30

Top Workplace Trends in 2023

Erica predicts three major trends: increased AI adoption reducing jobs, global hiring beyond traditional hubs, and 'quiet hiring'—promoting top internal talent into new roles instead of external hires.

  • AI will replace some roles, creating demand for new skill sets.
  • Companies will hire globally, shifting away from urban office centers.
  • Quiet hiring: promoting high performers internally over external recruitment.

“There's gonna be a move from quiet quitting to quiet hiring.”

Erica Dhawan · 59:20
#future-of-work#ai#hiring-trends#quiet-hiring