There was a time, not too long ago, when you had to make a phone call to do just about anything, from arranging dates with friends to sussing out what time a store closed. The phone’s primacy went even further in the workplace, where it was an essential tool in building relationships, making sales and simply getting shit done. 

That’s all changed, of course. These days, you can pop into an office and not see a single desk phone. More and more people eschew phone calls for lengthy emails, cringing at the prospect of yet another worthless Zoom catch-up. The art of the phone call is being lost, and it’s a tragedy.

Workplace communication expert Amy Gallo advises that a well-placed phone call can not only speed along a project, but help stave off interoffice conflict. “With an ema...