If You Want to Build Good Relationships, Stop Hiding Behind Your Email If you're working through touchy subjects, in-person is better than the inbox.

There's probably a good reason that late-night e-mail rant to a vendor backfired. When it comes to tough discussions, businesspeople need to stop texting and e-mailing and start talking, says Susan Pinker, a developmental psychologist and author of the new book The Village Effect: How Face-to-Face Contact Can Make Us Healthier, Happier, and Smarter.

We had a heart-to-heart conversation with Pinker to find out why this matters so much for startups.

You say we should use the phone or face time for "nuanced" interactions.