I had an exchange with a colleague of mine today and I thought it was super important to get the message out that you need to communicate differently based on the communication medium.
Specifically, I’m talking about the way you approach people and paper. When we are introduced to people, we tend to think more about whether we like someone as opposed to the quality of the conversation. Think about the last five people you’ve met. How have you evaluated them? Most people look to the person first regardless of the presentation, the idea, the content. You have to come across as a decent, genuine person or your idea doesn’t mean anything.
when it comes to formal mean of communication, it’s a whole different story. Take email. Less is definitely more. Stick to the story and get it over with quickly. The more you give in email or in another document, the more vulnerable you make yourself. This is important stuff kids. Informal communication is about you. Formal communication is about whatever it is that you’re pitching. You do not need to be nice. Just get your point across professionally and you are good to go. Save the niceties for personal interaction.
There are so many ways we communicate these days and it will serve you well to understand the different contexts involved with each. For the most part, I advocate friendliness and openness when in person. When it comes to more formal mediums, keep it all business and be one hundred percent unapologetic for doing so.
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