Shorter emails? I'm serious. I try to write a draft, then edit it until the core message is left. Then, "check this docs/let's have a virtual meet" for more context.
I have a formula for emails that I follow because most people don't really read past the first sentence.
The very first sentence of any work email I send is the action I want them to perform -- the sentence that most people would put at the end. I also write the subject line so it functions as a todo bullet point for them.
The next paragraph is a summary of why I need them to do whatever it is that I am asking them to do.
The rest of the email is the details.
The last paragraph of the email restates the first.
Condense email, always a good idea to reflect, e.g I can quickly write too long texts where you can cut half. Condensing down to one sentence is maybe hard though.
Alternatively, write multiple one sentence emails... :D
Seriously? Ask him to read better an/or do more calls, if they work better?
If nothing helps, fire/report/escalate whatever option you have, as simple as that, or run for yourself ;)
I think the nature of your dependency on them and their dependency on you figures heavily into your viable options to address the overall communication problem. In my experience this kind of issue is often unique to the specific pair of people.
I know, I know, as a millenial I hate to do it too. But it does get things done much smoother and much quicker when someone isn't that great of a text-based communicator in my experience.
talk with them? Explain with examples how their behavior impacts your ability to do your job and ask them what they recommend for working better together.
BLUF[1]. Put the key point you want to convey (or question you want answered) in the very first line of the E-mail, in boldface or color or whatever as the TLDR. Then go into detail further down, that you know your colleague may or may not read.
Don't mix topics for these people. Send multiple E-mails. Chances are, they use their Inbox as a TODO list, and if they have an E-mail with multiple topics it could get lost.
1. you have to work with remotely, and
2. never reads your entire e-mails, only the first sentence or (if you're lucky) the first paragraph.
Any ideas?