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| Endless numbers of articles can and have been written on the usefulness and good tips for text messaging. My last newsletter article was specifically targeted to help us NOW. The goal was to assist in quickly eliminating those unwanted, unwarranted texts we all are getting lately. I have been eliminating numerous incoming texts daily! It’s been easy and keeps my Messages orderly! I don’t get annoyed by them anymore. I just stop, delete, and move on. Hopefully you are enjoying similar results implementing the suggestions, finding them helpful. If you have no idea what I’m talking about, you can read my last article here. Now let’s shift to texting as a TOOL for getting things done! We know that texting is the most immediate form of communication. This doesn’t mean it’s the ONLY form of communication. Use it wisely, for the tool that it is. When it comes to its usefulness, texting for actual work, here are some important things to keep in mind. 1. Know your audience. With whom are you communicating? ASK THEM what form(s) of communication they know how to use and which they prefer. Tell them YOUR preferred method(s) as well. Once you get a rough idea of preferences, you will need to discern WHEN to use these modes of communication. The phrase, “Well…it depends…” illustrates the next point. 2. What is the content of your communication? After learning preferred modes, discuss circumstances/content for these specific methods based on the type of information being relayed and/or requested. If it’s urgent and short, use text. If it’s not urgent, takes time, and is more involved, use email. This should be the general rule and is best communicated ahead of time, using examples. 3. Lower expectations of others. Not everyone is going to do this perfectly and consistently. Save yourself the frustration and know this ahead of time. If you receive a lengthy to-do list in a text, just move it into email, where it belongs. If an urgent message is emailed to you, rather than texted, remind the sender to correct that in the future, then carry on. Put communications where they belong. Know your system. Have one in place. If you need my help with this, let me know. When we are communicating properly and in appropriate ways, things don’t fall through the cracks. We don’t have to keep it all in our heads or tolerate scattered work. It doesn’t have to be that way! Create a system, communicate it, then implement it, where everything is there and in the right places. There is freedom and peace in that! And what a great feeling! Would you agree? |