Sometimes we bang out a message to get it done quickly. But if we take just another minute or two to make the message clearer before clicking Enter or Send, we save time for readers. That time savings often leads to getting a faster, better response. Here is an example.
Jeffrey is writing to an associate about scheduling a meeting. Yes, he might have sent a meeting request, but he handled the communication this way. Do you see something that demands extra time for the reader?
What could Jeffrey do to make the message clearer? Think about that question before reading my revision below.
Meeting is a good idea! Below is my availability. I think we probably need up to an hour to hash through things.
- Tomorrow, 7/16, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
- Thursday, 7/17, 12:30-5 p.m
- Friday, 7/18, 12-4 p.m.
If you have an hour free on those three days, just pick a time and let me know.
Note: I think you wanted to send me some examples to get my reactions. Would it make sense to do that before we talk?
Best,
Jeffrey
Do you agree that my revision saves the reader time and may get a better response? Would you edit it the same way, or is there a better approach?
In your experience, are edits like those above worth the time?
