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IM-terruptions
Posted on December 23rd, 2011 No comments
I see your name right there on my chat window. I have a question. All I have to do is click on your name and ask it. How easy is that? What could possibly be the problem?Letters were so carefully crafted back when horses delivered the mail. There were infrequent pickups and infrequent deliveries. And no cut & paste. So every thought was crafted. Because it had to be.Now we can reach anyone any time, and here’s the problem: not every issue requires immediate action. Read the rest of this entry »
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Please don’t recommend this to other people
Posted on December 14th, 2011 No comments
Internal recommendations (within your team) are not as innocent as they seem.They’re actually great ways to avoid owning responsibility. They’re speed bumps. They are harmfully harmless. Read the rest of this entry »
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(dis)please advise
Posted on December 1st, 2011 No comments
People love the phrase “please advise”. You shouldn’t.
It’s a great way to lob the tennis ball back into the other person’s court.If you’re helping a business person, don’t use that phrase. Especially if they’re busy. Craft every message to a customer with a method that enables the executive to simply reply with “ok” or “yes”.That’s one way you go from “techie” to “consultant”. Techies do what is asked of them. Consultants tell clients what they should do so that the client can follow their advice and guidance.
Example:(before) - Your virus subscription expires on Dec. 15th. Please advise.(after) – Your virus subscription expires on Dec. 15th. Cost is $24 for the year and we have your Amex on file. Ok to renew this for you?If you’re asking your customer to “please advise” you, you’re making too much work for them. The more you make it easier for them to say yes, the more often you’ll hear the word “yes” from them.If you’re a stickler for business writing, here’s more on the phrase
And here’s an attorney who uses it and loves the phrase, but check out the comments, many people despise it…
