Communications Overload
Four tips to clarify communications with managers & executives
I used to write long emails. When I say long, I mean pages upon pages long. You would have to scroll and scroll and scroll some more to get to the end. This was not every email, just the ones reporting on outcomes or providing instructions on a program I created or when someone asked for clarification.
Then one day, one of my managers after a team meeting pulled me aside. He asked me, “You know those emails you write?”
Not knowing what this was about or where he was going with his question, I replied, “Sure.”
“How do you think your recipients perceive them?” he continued.
“I don’t know, I suppose they find them helpful, no one ever gets back to me with questions.” I still was not sure what he was getting at.
Then he curtly said, “No, they find them infuriating. I find them infuriating.” He paused to let that statement settle in before saying, “No one replies because we are drowning in your emails.”
“Here is some advice. Ready? Just give us the facts. Nothing less, nothing more, and only what we need to take action on.” Then he left as I stood there completely traumatized.
