In one embodiment, a collaboration node prioritizes each modality of communication accessible by at least a first user and a second user based on one or more communication characteristics in a collaboration profile, monitors communication characteristics of a communication session conducted in a first modality of communication between the first user and the second user, and determines a second modality of communication accessible to the first user and the second user having a higher priority than the first modality of communication based on the collaboration profile and the communication characteristics for the communication session. The collaboration node further notifies at least one of the first user or the second user when the second modality of communication has the higher priority than the first modality of communication.