Knowing what’s valuable to share and what’s just fluff or distractions can be difficult. These questions are really helpful to get me thinking 🧐
What is your main point and why is this important?
What is your goal in sharing this information?
What action do you want your recipient to take?
Are you really answering the question they’re asking?
How much does your audience already know?
Who are my stakeholders and how does that change what I write? (I added)
How can I make it super clear what if anything I need from a stakeholder? (My addition)
Also loved this encouragement. Thanks for sharing, Wes!
“Over time, you develop muscle memory—and I believe you can begin to develop it and start seeing results rather quickly. One day, you’ll realize that it’s second nature to share certain details but not others. You’ll be able to sense what’s needed and respond well intuitively.”
This is the hard stuff, but the good stuff that takes you from ok/good to kick-ass. 🚀
I so agree with too many numbers being an issue, in the second example I just glazed over completely, couldn't visualise what it was telling me at all.
I really like the idea of explaining why you are getting so detailed ,instead of apologising as well, will definitely work on that
Reread your sentence or paragraph in every email, report, presentation and ask this question:
What is this adding to the message?
If what it adds is needed leave it, if not cut it.
Reread it. Rinse and repeat.
I am used to doing this now but I learned it from a client years ago when we were doing a study that ended with a long report.
I’ve always been concise and to the point in speech and writing, but the person that created the first report was more of a Mr. Long-Winded type. We had to start from scratch.
Another lesson from the same client: to always have a beginning, middle and end.
Knowing what’s valuable to share and what’s just fluff or distractions can be difficult. These questions are really helpful to get me thinking 🧐
What is your main point and why is this important?
What is your goal in sharing this information?
What action do you want your recipient to take?
Are you really answering the question they’re asking?
How much does your audience already know?
Who are my stakeholders and how does that change what I write? (I added)
How can I make it super clear what if anything I need from a stakeholder? (My addition)
Also loved this encouragement. Thanks for sharing, Wes!
“Over time, you develop muscle memory—and I believe you can begin to develop it and start seeing results rather quickly. One day, you’ll realize that it’s second nature to share certain details but not others. You’ll be able to sense what’s needed and respond well intuitively.”
This is the hard stuff, but the good stuff that takes you from ok/good to kick-ass. 🚀
I so agree with too many numbers being an issue, in the second example I just glazed over completely, couldn't visualise what it was telling me at all.
I really like the idea of explaining why you are getting so detailed ,instead of apologising as well, will definitely work on that
Much needed. As a product manager who has to distill details to other parts of the business and upwards, I got great thinking points here.
Reread your sentence or paragraph in every email, report, presentation and ask this question:
What is this adding to the message?
If what it adds is needed leave it, if not cut it.
Reread it. Rinse and repeat.
I am used to doing this now but I learned it from a client years ago when we were doing a study that ended with a long report.
I’ve always been concise and to the point in speech and writing, but the person that created the first report was more of a Mr. Long-Winded type. We had to start from scratch.
Another lesson from the same client: to always have a beginning, middle and end.
Like a book or movie.
My 2 cents.
It’s served me well.