One of the most important forms of communication is writing.
Expressing our confidence in a given piece of knowledge helps with decision making. It also opens the door for others to challenge our beliefs so that they do not feel that they are making you 100% wrong1. Expressing confidence also allows others to evaluate the information without treating it as true initially. This helps break the cycle for them of motivated reasoning by never allowing it to start.
Counter-intuitively expressing confidence alongside facts can also increase trust in the speaker because it signals that they are trying to tell the truth, that they considered the quantity and quality of information. That they are thoughtful and self-aware1.
Storytelling is an important part of selling an idea. When trying to build broad consensus for an idea, sell bottom-up and top-down with your storytelling 2.
Communication occurs in the white space, rather than the dictated vertical lines of an org chart, across teams and amongst peers 3.
Useful tools in communication:
Meetings work
Meetings are dreaded and ubiquitous, however they are essential for coordinating groups. They serve as a way of conveying culture.
Types of meetings4
- Information sharing and Q&A
- Decision making
- Achieving Alignment
- Discuss ideas and feedback, i.e. “brain storming”
Process
Meta
Schedule hygiene is important part of avoiding burn out and Zoom fatigue. While a company wide meeting purge may be thought to implement, you can at least do regular audits of your reoccurring meetings and opt-out of those that are no longer relevant to you.
Before the meeting
Decide if this needs to be a meeting at all, consider written forms of communication. Perhaps documentation first as it will serve a wider audience, email where nuance is key, chat where speed is key. Use the POST framework to develop a meaningful agenda.
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Post Framework
For each calendar invite outline the following5: Purpose Outcome Structure Timing
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Timing
Consider starting on the :05 and :35 to give time for others to switch from their previous meeting. Consider keeping your timing under a half hour / hour4.
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Pre-reads
Send any pre-reads 24 hours before the meetings
- TODO my process on pre-reads
During the meeting
The leader should introduce the topic/goal, along with giving time for introducing unknown participants
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Note taking
- Key ideas, Action items
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In-person meetings
If not Zoom, be careful about the fact that Whiteboards bias towards the drawer.
Post meeting
- Send out summary of points from the agenda, action items, and additional ideas