Communication tools

It’s all great that companies have so many ways to communicate, share information, ask and answer questions nowadays. But as it’s often the case, new tools don’t fix old issues.

Like assuming that communication happened just because you have communicated something.

Like expecting an immediate answer to trivial or unimportant questions to placate your anxiety.

Like spreading information left and right with the hope that those who need it will get it and absorb it, while others will forget about it.

Communication is a skill and it needs old-fashioned training, not new tools.

Edge

Out of an audience of 100 people, seeking advice on how to get started with a project, when the speaker – who has extensive experience with that project – invites the audience to connect, this will happen.

90 people will do nothing.

7 people will send an invitation to connect.

2 people will send an invitation to connect and a personal message.

1 person will send an invitation to connect, a personal message, and ask a question that will help them get started with the project.

The points being:

  1. If you are one of the 90, remember that time is an extremely valuable asset, and your time in particular.
  2. Getting an edge on the other 99 is so easy.

Too detailed

Check the specifics and stress over the big picture.

Too often we instead stress over the specifics and don’t even pay attention to the big picture.

One example: check business metrics weekly, even daily, and do it in a way that informs the steps to take next week, next month, not today. Report business metrics quarterly, and do it in a way that links them to a clear, overarching business strategy. Stress only if the quarterly numbers consistently miss the mark, and do it in a way that informs a new strategy.

Not forever

No matter how it feels today, it won’t last forever.

No matter how it is today, it won’t last forever.

No matter how you think today, it won’t last forever.

It is, of course, worrying. But also, liberating.

All in all, a good thing to keep in mind.

The darkest hour

Even in the darkest hour, there are things that keep you going.

Things that give you energy, that make you want to continue to try, that help you to not give up.

Even in the darkest hour, we need to be able to appreciate those things, name them, doble down on them.

That’s how we make the darkest hour a little less dark.