Do they need to hear it now?

You can say something now, but it can be done in a way more effective way for everyone.

Write more, talk less

Lately I am practicing a more asynchronus style of communication. I find that the more I do it, the more natural it becomes. Feeling natural is a good sign showing that a solution fits a problem well.

Basically, this asynchronicity means preferring writing over real-time chat (not necessarily face-to-face nowadays). From simple checking in with people to elaborating a new idea of mine, I now write up and send to my intended audience first. Most of the time, it suffices and we continue to communicate via text (with the occasional aid of diagrams) until the topic is resolved. Sometimes we set up a time for real-time chat when text isn’t enough to explain some more abstract ideas.

I found the act of writing first has a number of benefits. For simple issues, e.g. checking in on the status of something or asking for a clarification, it won’t interrupt the work and focus of another party (in fact, these issues often don’t need an immediate response).

For more complex issues, it brings even more benefits:

• For the sender, writing forces you to organise your thoughts. Very often, I have some ideas and I only find that I can boil them down to a few key points (which implies that it was originally full of unnecessary information).
• It also helps you think of what you need from the other side. A clear purpose for the recipient helps keep the conversation thin and healthy.
• For the recipient, it gives them the time and space needed to digest and do his research before giving a thoughtful response. Some unprocessed stream of thoughts won’t help you as the sender. Usually it diverts the focus of conversation from what truly matters.

Let’s all write more and talk less.