In today’s rapidly changing business climate, effective communication practices are at the heart of every successful team and organization. It is no longer considered a “soft” skill that was nice to have. Effective communication is a mandatory requirement. Yet lost in a sea of technology and 24/7 workplace connectivity, we often think we’re communicating by the sheer volume of our voice mails, e-mails and texting. What we sometimes ignore is the quality of our communication, especially critical when stakes are high and the maintenance of trust is critical. When we rely mostly on the use of technology to communicate, we often miss vital communication cues. Missing these cues leads to misunderstanding and conflict, which can be costly to individuals, teams and organizations.