BEFORE you press the "Send" button on your email, BEFORE you deliver that "final" report to your manager, BEFORE you make that important call, and BEFORE you make that presentation, do the following:
STOP - Pause and take ONE MORE MINUTE and run through this checklist:
STOP - Pause and take ONE MORE MINUTE and run through this checklist:
- Consider having someone else proof the document for you.
- Make sure you've run a grammar and spell-check on the document.
- Give a final "cold read" of the document to ensure you've clearly communicated your intentions. Consider reading the document to yourself OUT LOUD -- you may be surprised at what errors you'll discover.
- Do I have crystal clear clarity on my key points and have I communicated those key points as clearly as possible?
- Do I really need to send this email? Would a phone call be better? Do I need a "cooling off" period before I communicate this matter?
- Am I directing this communication to the right person(s)?
- Did I give this project / task / assignment the attention it truly deserved?
Begin this habit with the VERY NEXT deliverable on your plate and encourage your team mates and colleagues to do the same.
Apply these "one minute" techniques and improve the quality of your output and communications.
Article provided by my son, Andy Robinson
Executive Coach, Career Success Coach and Strategic Thinking Partner
http://careersuccess.typepad.com/my_weblog/
http://careersuccess.typepad.com/my_weblog/
