When you communicate remotely, you never know exactly what the other person is doing at that moment.

A person can answer your question with a simple “Yes” and not elaborate because they don’t have the time.

Without understanding the context of the other person, you might think that the other person is not listening or doesn’t care about the issue you raised when they are maybe just juggling you and their child simultaneously. This is why virtual teams must communicate effectively and avoid making assumptions.

Whether you are delivering or receiving the message, considering your colleague’s context (distractions, cultural norms, mother tongue, presence of young children, just a bad day) could help prevent misunderstandings.