07/09/2020

Daily Buzz: Be More Decisive In Your Messages

Avoid verbosity

Every word can make a difference when communicating with coworkers and direct reports. For more effective leadership, avoid using a few key words that take away from your message.

“Without thinking—or out of habit—many people add qualifiers to their emails,” said Jeff Haden on Inc. “Which makes them sound hesitant. Unsure. Indecisive. Wishy-washy. And turns what could have been a powerful message into something far less.”

The word “think” is one of these qualifiers. Instead of saying, “I think we need to re-run that order,” simply say “Re-run that order.” Both convey the same message, but the latter is decisive and doesn’t signal to the recipients that you’re on the fence about the decision.

“Adding ‘I think’ makes it sound like the decision is up for debate. Or that you’re unsure. Or maybe you’re subtly seeking input,” Haden said.

Try to avoid using the word “guess” as well, as it implies you haven’t made an informed prediction based on any data or information.

“Instead, use projection. Estimate. Forecast. Calculation. Even expectation (which will naturally make people want to meet it). In short, use a word that conveys you’ve assessed the past and present to forecast the future,” Haden said.

Additionally, the word “need” could come off as too demanding or dependent. Instead of saying “I need you to complete the order by the end of the day,” use the more polite, “Please complete the order by the end of the day.”

Please select this link to read the original article from Associations Now.