[3 minutes to read — less if you rush!]
Taptaptaptap… You dash off an email. A little voice inside you says, “Maybe you should proofread that,” and you think, “No, I’m sure it’s fine.” You hit Send. How likely is it that you would find an error or typo if you took the time to reread?
Ding! You receive an email that makes your blood boil. You quickly type out a reply and hit Send with the triumphant feeling of having gotten something off your chest. How likely are you to regret what you wrote once you’ve had a chance to cool down?
Buzz! Your alarm goes off early in the morning. Groggily, you reach for your cell phone and turn off the alarm. Then you turn your attention to your emails. One message stands out: An important deal is at risk. Without stopping for coffee, you throw on your clothes and dash out the door to head to the office. How does this beginning affect the rest of your day?
When we rush, we make mistakes. We lose our center. We diminish our joy in living. When we rush, we disconnect from other people. Most communication errors would be prevented if only we would not rush.
In Worktalk’s popular new workshop, Communicating Effectively in a Fast-Paced World, we explore purposeful communication, direct writing, and curious listening. We also look at ways to reduce the habit of rushing.
How can we reduce rushing? Here are a few ideas to consider:
How to Slow Down When You Communicate
- Meditate, reflect, journal, or just have a cup of coffee before you look at emails in the morning. Keep the outside world at bay until you have taken some time for yourself.
- Take a moment to think about your core message before you start to write. This will save you from “Shoot first, aim later,” syndrome.
- Make it a firm habit to reread everything you write. If you think you do not have time, consider how long it will take you to regain your credibility after making an embarrassing error.
- Avoid answering emails on your cell phone. Let people know that you’ll get back to them when you are at a computer.
- Avoid multi-tasking. Do one thing at a time.
For many of us, rushing is a habit that is baked into our daily schedules. Just as we built it in, we can reduce it by changing some of the ways we arrange our lives.
You can move quickly without rushing. Learn how in our workshop on Communicating Effectively in a Fast-Paced World. Contact lizd@worktalk.com to learn more.
©2019 Elizabeth Danziger All rights reserved
BOOK YOUR STRATEGY CALL NOW Communication woes drag down productivity and morale. Book your free 30-minute “communications audit” consultation with Elizabeth Danziger. She will listen to your situation and suggest ways to improve communication in your organization right away. Contact her at lizd@worktalk.com or 310.396.8303. You can also book through www.calendly.com/worktalk.