Leaders,
Send…send…send. Most days it’s a race against time, trying to send and respond to as many emails as you can, as quickly as you can.
Yet we may be underestimating the silent perception impact we are incurring by being less than thoughtful about the full implications of every message we create.
Rather than being email speed racers and equating success to quantity-based productivity, it’s a sign of an evolving leader to adopt a new, more self-aware mindset and method for communication-proofing.
Since every communication we put out says something about who we are, even more than the topic or technical content, we always advise leaders to live by a two-step proofing process.
First, proof your communication for content-clarity. Things like flow, grammar, or missing chunks of information that will help the reader understand fully and quickly, and act on it or assimilate to it as simply as possible.
Second is re-reading your message for tone and presence. Pretend you are the receiver. What would you come away thinking about this person (you)? Are they more than just a talking head or purveyor of flat information? Do they have a pleasant personality that shines through? Do they come across open armed or close armed? Does their tone feel like an ally, challenger, or apathetic?
People who deliver information are a dime a dozen, but those who do it with precision, thoughtful attentiveness (versus curt speed), and engaging presence (versus robotic computer voice) are admired, advocated for, and far more impactful in the long run.
This week’s article is a great read with a few simple pieces of advice to help you stay present with your best brand in mind before hitting send.
Coach Faith
ARE YOUR EMAILS HURTING YOUR LEADERSHIP PRESENCE?
“Email presence, how you’re perceived based on how you communicate through email, matters because it’s an extension of your professional reputation and we know that your reputation is a key factor in your long–term career success. For better or worse, other professionals will judge you based on your emails. Your voice, your personality and your thinking are all on show. For that reason alone, email presence is important and should not be overlooked (even when you are in a hurry).”
https://www.vantageleadership.com/our-blog/emails-your-leadership-presence/
Have a great weekend!
Secret Weapon Leader Team
