Communicating Effectively in Open Workspaces

“hi” What if I ended this post there and waited for you to reply to deliver my message? If this was Slack, would you reply "hello" and patiently wait while watching three blinking dots as a I type? Would you ignore it? 🔻 Either way, it kills async productivity. Don't force a synchronous conversation. Instead, put everything in a single message: 🔸 Say "hi" 🔸 Provide context 🔸 Ask a question or inform 🔸 Set expectations on time frame if urgent or not urgent For example: Hi! I hope all is well with you. I noticed that you've been sending simple "hi" messages on Slack. I have been ignoring these messages. Sometimes I might add a hand wave emoji, but I won't reply. It might seem rude to ignore a "hello" because it would be if we were talking in person. In person, saying "hi" without any additional context is completely fine. However, in an asynchronous work environment like ours, it's more effective if we provide context when initiating a conversation. This allows for more focused and efficient communication. When we receive a notification on Slack without much content, it interrupts whatever we're doing. Then we either wait for the next message, or switch back to our task and get interrupted again later. Both scenarios are less than ideal for productivity. Please don't hesitate to reach out with your questions or comments — that's what I'm here for. When you do, it would be great if you include some context and indicate the urgency in the initial message. If it's not urgent, I'll set a reminder to respond when I'm able to. This approach works well for me, and I encourage you to try it too. Thanks for understanding, and I believe this will help make our interactions more productive! There's no need to reply to this message unless you want to — just something to consider for future conversations. For more on this topic, you might find this link interesting: https://nohello.net/ P.S. This goes doubly for LinkedIn DMs

Setting boundaries will get you more respect, not less. But only if you do it effectively: Saying yes all the time is NOT the key to success. In fact, it's a sure-fire way to:  ↳Get overloaded ↳Hurt your performance ↳Seem less valuable ↳Burn yourself out While many struggle to establish boundaries, And worry about what others will think if they do so, The reality is that those who set and communicate them effectively Actually increase their success AND reputation. Use this sheet to learn how: 1) Don't say: "I'll try to get to all of this" ↳Because: Puts all the pressure on you and avoids setting limits ↳Say instead: "I can't do all of this today - which part should I prioritize?" 2) Don't say: "I'm working but I'll keep an eye on messages" ↳Because: Undermines your focus and invites interruptions ↳Say instead: "I've set aside the morning for focused work - I'll check at noon" 3) Don't say: "I'm not sure I'm the best person for this" ↳Because: Opens the door for someone to push you to do it anyway ↳Say instead: "That's outside my lane, but here's someone who might be a better fit" 4) Don't say: "I don't want to disappoint you" ↳Because: Prioritizes their comfort over your needs ↳Say instead: "I know this may be disappointing, but I have to say no" 5) Don't say: "I'll try to squeeze it in last minute" ↳Because: Compromises your quality and adds stress ↳Say instead: "I work best with notice - I can't take this on at the last minute" 6) Don't say: "I'm free - take as long as you need" ↳Because: Time-drains easily expand when unstructured ↳Say instead: "I have 1 hour for this - let's address the key points" 7) Don't say: "Let me think about it" ↳Because: If the answer is no, just say so, instead of wasting everyone's time ↳Say instead: "I appreciate the ask, but I'm going to pass" 8) Don't say: "Maybe we can find a time?" ↳Because: Sounds cooperative but avoids a decision ↳Say instead: "I can't meet this week - does next Wednesday work?" 9) Don't say: "Just reach out anytime this weekend" ↳Because: Sets an always-available expectation ↳Say instead: "I unplug on weekends, but I'll respond Monday morning" 10) Don't say: "I guess I can do it" ↳Because: Implies reluctance, but still agrees, creating resentment ↳Say instead: "I'm not the right person for this, so I have to say no" 11) Don't say: "Let me know what you need" ↳Because: Opens the door to unlimited requests ↳Say instead: "I have one afternoon to devote to this, so let me know the priority" Setting boundaries isn't easy. But learning to keep control of your schedule, Instead of turning it over to others, Will let you serve them AND yourself much more effectively. Give these a try. Any others you'd add? --- ♻️ Repost to help your network set firmer boundaries. And follow me George Stern for more.