Work Place Lessons from TDA: Lesson 2 - Work Place Communication

[The Drunken Actuary]

Originally Posted by ditkaworshipper

Personally, I would advise being slightly bubbly in your communication. I generally agree with TDA's advice on brevity, but these little things can help you communicate much harsher messages with significantly less friction. I may only need 2 sentences to communicate something, but I will use 4-5 if it means the difference between correctly calling someone out or a blame-free option. I've found I get what I need out of people faster this way, which means less communication in the long term: the ultimate goal.

I didn't say sacrifice content for brevity. If the key to your message is not-calling someone out then that IS your content so take as much space as you need to do that. But no more!

[The Drunken Actuary]

Also, starting a message with "I wanted to..." or "I am writing to..." sucks. Don't do it. As in, "I wanted to let you know I've updated the TPS reports for May." And especially, "I am writing because I want to let you know that the TPS reports are updated for May."

In fact, I got one today "I wanted to follow up with you on whether you've done blah blah blah."

I really want to reply and say, feel free to follow up whenever it's convenient.

Why can't she just say, "Allan, have you done blah blah blah"

or even, "Allan, I am following up blah blah blah"

In fact, while still wrong, even saying "i am writing to follow up on blah blah blah" might even be better. I mean it's got to be better than telling me about something you wanted to do!!!!

[Childish Gambino]

Originally Posted by The Drunken Actuary

Also, starting a message with "I wanted to..." or "I am writing to..." sucks. Don't do it. As in, "I wanted to let you know I've updated the TPS reports for May." And especially, "I am writing because I want to let you know that the TPS reports are updated for May."

In fact, I got one today "I wanted to follow up with you on whether you've done blah blah blah."

I really want to reply and say, feel free to follow up whenever it's convenient.

Why can't she just say, "Allan, have you done blah blah blah"

or even, "Allan, I am following up blah blah blah"

In fact, while still wrong, even saying "i am writing to follow up on blah blah blah" might even be better. I mean it's got to be better than telling me about something you wanted to do!!!!

This seems less like important career advice and more like an old man yelling at a cloud.

[The Drunken Actuary]

Originally Posted by Childish Gambino

This seems less like important career advice and more like an old man yelling at a cloud.

You can lead a dead horse to water and still beat him imo

[The Right]

Thanks

[ditkaworshipper]

Originally Posted by The Drunken Actuary

I didn't say sacrifice content for brevity. If the key to your message is not-calling someone out then that IS your content so take as much space as you need to do that. But no more!

Agreed again. I’m just pointing out a detail that this is an important detail if you want to advance as people are extremely sensitive about these things.

[ao fan]

Originally Posted by Childish Gambino

This seems less like important career advice and more like an old man yelling at a cloud.

[The Drunken Actuary]

Originally Posted by ditkaworshipper

Agreed again. I’m just pointing out a detail that this is an important detail if you want to advance as people are extremely sensitive about these things.

Hmmm, didn't you basically say don't be a dick?

[ditkaworshipper]

Originally Posted by The Drunken Actuary

Hmmm, didn't you basically say don't be a dick?

No, I’m talking about completely reframing the message, too. Allan is and should be accountable for this issue, but I don’t state that even though it would make the message more clear for everyone what the actual problem is. It’s sacrificing content in a way.

I approve of doing this in external/upward communication where the team is really the accountable party and the failure to catch it is on everyone in a way. Where I’m not happy about this is where multiple teams are in play and one team screwed up, but none of us really call it out without being considered a problem child. The real issues get ignored because of this kind of crap, but I also know I’m going to need TPS reports every month from Allan and he’s a vindictive little prick.

I’m not even talking about punishment or anything, just a preference for being able to say, “this is wrong,” rather than the diplomatic dance expected in corporate America. More billable hours, I guess.

[yoyo]

when is Lesson 3? what is the topic?