As a Communications Manager at PGi, I’m passionate about writing but not when it comes to day-to-day communications with my co-workers. My Outlook inbox fills up daily at an alarming rate. That’s why I’m a big proponent of picking up the phone and calling my co-workers when I have a question or need to briefly discuss something. At the same time, I hate leaving voicemails, primarily because people simply don’t return them. I don’t take it personally, though. Texting and emailing have replaced the archaic landline that was once used for communicating.

We’re so used to talking with our fingers that we often miss that little blinking light that tells us we have a message waiting. Or, people listen to my voicemail but then respond with an email!

So why do I despise email so much? Aside from being a remote worker who often starts to feel lonely by 3 p.m., email lacks a personal, human connection. My need to connect with others is why I’m also passionate about PGi’s services. We make our services so simple that the focus is on connecting with others. With iMeet, you get your own personal room where you can share pictures and information about yourself and connect through common networking sites like Facebook and LinkedIn.

For web conferencing, GlobalMeet makes it possible for people to connect without all of the hassles that often come with web products. From set-up to billing and everything in between, GlobalMeet makes it easy for people to communicate in a way that feels face-to-face.

Of course, email and texting are great for keeping records, outlining details or when you don’t want to intrude on someone’s day with a ringing phone, but it’s time to swing the pendulum back the other way.

Here’s one French company that is swinging the pendulum WAY back. This IT services company hopes to completely eliminate email company by 2013. Do you think they can do it? Read the full story here.

For tips on how to manage the email onslaught, read PGi’s Learning Space. I encourage you to look at your own communication habits, close that text or email, and talk with your voice. You may find that it’s faster, avoids confusion and an ongoing chain that just clogs an already overflowing inbox. At the very least, you might just be making a remote worker’s day feel a little less lonely.