Why Reading Carefully Is the New Listening: The Ultimate Guide to Respect in Digital Spaces

Gone are the days when you could nod, smile, or make eye contact to show you’re paying attention. In today’s digital workplace, reading carefully is the new listening—and it’s the most underrated skill for building respect and influence.



Erica Dhawan’s Digital Body Language highlights that most misunderstandings happen not because people don’t care, but because they skim messages or miss subtle cues. When you read carefully, you catch important details, understand context, and show the sender that you value their effort.

Careful reading means slowing down, referencing specific points in your reply, and never assuming you know the sender’s intent. It’s about asking clarifying questions and responding to all parts of a message, not just the easy ones.

Why does this matter? Because visible respect builds trust. Teams who practice careful reading are more aligned, make fewer mistakes, and have higher morale. It’s the difference between a team that’s always putting out fires and one that’s proactive, calm, and connected.

Want to stand out? Start by being the person who really listens—by reading every message with care.

Sources: Erica Dhawan, Digital Body Language; NSLS review; 5 Minute Book Summary. 1 3