1/
There are so many random things that I know now that I wish I’d known before. Lessons learned the hard way. Stuff I should’ve seen as important the first time.
Yup.
You know? A Saturday on my couch is as good a time as any to pay one of those lessons forward.
Mmm hmm.
There are so many random things that I know now that I wish I’d known before. Lessons learned the hard way. Stuff I should’ve seen as important the first time.
Yup.
You know? A Saturday on my couch is as good a time as any to pay one of those lessons forward.
Mmm hmm.
2/
On email:
Heavy asks and contentious concerns? Those are best reserved for in person meetings.
Let me be specific.
Students? Residents? Colleagues? Hear me when I say this: No email involving confrontation or conflict is seen by the recipient only.
Trust me on that.
On email:
Heavy asks and contentious concerns? Those are best reserved for in person meetings.
Let me be specific.
Students? Residents? Colleagues? Hear me when I say this: No email involving confrontation or conflict is seen by the recipient only.
Trust me on that.
3/
A colleague once told me:
If there’s an issue and you’re moving into a second paragraph? Delete the whole email and change it to a meeting request.
Or.
Write the email/text in such a way that you’ll be cool with other eyes seeing it.
Because they will.
A colleague once told me:
If there’s an issue and you’re moving into a second paragraph? Delete the whole email and change it to a meeting request.
Or.
Write the email/text in such a way that you’ll be cool with other eyes seeing it.
Because they will.
4/
And no. I’m not talking about health issues or private personal concerns. Those do generally stay confidential.
Oh, but that call schedule you hate?
That grade that you felt wasn’t fair at all?
Ask. For. A. Meeting.
And if that isn’t an option? Get some advice first.
And no. I’m not talking about health issues or private personal concerns. Those do generally stay confidential.
Oh, but that call schedule you hate?
That grade that you felt wasn’t fair at all?
Ask. For. A. Meeting.
And if that isn’t an option? Get some advice first.
5/
Feeling mad? Consider waiting. Or drafting your message in Word first. You definitely don’t want to accidentally send you typo laden tirade to your boss.
No. You. Do. Not.
Also if you’re upset, ask yourself this:
What is the goal of this message?
Feeling mad? Consider waiting. Or drafting your message in Word first. You definitely don’t want to accidentally send you typo laden tirade to your boss.
No. You. Do. Not.
Also if you’re upset, ask yourself this:
What is the goal of this message?
6/
Is it to get something off of your chest?
Is it to put someone in their place?
Is it meant to effect change, strengthen relationships, or advocate for yourself?
Beware of using email for the first two.
And don’t be hasty if it is the latter.
Know your goal.
Is it to get something off of your chest?
Is it to put someone in their place?
Is it meant to effect change, strengthen relationships, or advocate for yourself?
Beware of using email for the first two.
And don’t be hasty if it is the latter.
Know your goal.
7/
Sometimes you need to respond to someone who broke all of these rules and emailed you first. Depending upon who it is, you have two clear ways to respond:
1. Ask to talk or meet.
2. Carefully craft a reply that clearly has the goal of your communication in mind.
But wait.
Sometimes you need to respond to someone who broke all of these rules and emailed you first. Depending upon who it is, you have two clear ways to respond:
1. Ask to talk or meet.
2. Carefully craft a reply that clearly has the goal of your communication in mind.
But wait.
8/
If you choose an email reply, seek counsel first. My mentors are super helpful for things like this. Why?
1. They can usually be objective.
2. They can help me explore if I need to respond at all.
3. They have experience and care about me.
Upset?
Don't. Go. Rogue.
If you choose an email reply, seek counsel first. My mentors are super helpful for things like this. Why?
1. They can usually be objective.
2. They can help me explore if I need to respond at all.
3. They have experience and care about me.
Upset?
Don't. Go. Rogue.
9/
One of my mentors went through an email sent to me line by line and helped unpack what each line meant. They highlighted the areas that seemed most important. I worked on my reply based on this.
Yup.
And when I hit send, I knew other eyes might see it. But that was okay.
One of my mentors went through an email sent to me line by line and helped unpack what each line meant. They highlighted the areas that seemed most important. I worked on my reply based on this.
Yup.
And when I hit send, I knew other eyes might see it. But that was okay.
10/
Do I always exhibit perfect impulse control? Of course not. But I have learned to respect the power of written communication. AND how often it can be misunderstood.
Which reminds me:
ALL CAPS = SCREAMING
‼️ are often misunderstood
Oh, and email time stamps DO matter.
Do I always exhibit perfect impulse control? Of course not. But I have learned to respect the power of written communication. AND how often it can be misunderstood.
Which reminds me:
ALL CAPS = SCREAMING
‼️ are often misunderstood
Oh, and email time stamps DO matter.
11/
Also:
Consider searching in your email for the last messages you sent to the person you’re contacting.
Were they ALL asks?
Were they ALL complaints?
That may affect how your message is received. If I had time, I’d talk about how text messages are the same.
If I had time.
Also:
Consider searching in your email for the last messages you sent to the person you’re contacting.
Were they ALL asks?
Were they ALL complaints?
That may affect how your message is received. If I had time, I’d talk about how text messages are the same.
If I had time.
12/
Wait. I do have time.
I was about to text a colleague-friend one day and scrolled up. My last 3 texts were similar asks.
And since I don't want to be a TAKER, I took pause.
Which reminds me:
Never heard of Givers/Takers/Matchers? Peep this.
Wait. I do have time.
I was about to text a colleague-friend one day and scrolled up. My last 3 texts were similar asks.
And since I don't want to be a TAKER, I took pause.
Which reminds me:
Never heard of Givers/Takers/Matchers? Peep this.
13/
Anyways.
If you remember nothing I said, when it comes to emails and texts remember this:
Big ask? Have a conversation.
Big concern? Have a conversation.
Big mad? Wait it out.
Because written word wars seldom end well.
Nor do they ever stay in one place.
#teamgivers
Anyways.
If you remember nothing I said, when it comes to emails and texts remember this:
Big ask? Have a conversation.
Big concern? Have a conversation.
Big mad? Wait it out.
Because written word wars seldom end well.
Nor do they ever stay in one place.
#teamgivers
