eLifespaces

“Talk backwards to me” is a favorite expression around our household. The jest of the expression meaning to tell me your purpose in speaking with me – then you may present whatever details you think necessary. This allows me to properly “tune in” and listen to details that are helpful to me in understanding. Even my recorded cell answering message ask the caller to please NOT leave a message, but to call me at my office or send me a txt message. Peer pressure ended that message, and yes – this approach lands me in the “dog house” with my spouse on many occasions.

It was a pleasure to read The New Yorkers article, e-Mail Auto Response, by Martin Marks this morning. ‘Spot on” in capturing how many of us really feel in receiving wordy, brain-dump email correspondence. Great read, please take a moment and visit.

In graduate school, a professor of strategic policy required that you provide case study analyses in 200 words or less, the consequences of non-compliance resulted in a failing mark. Another professor provided the basis for ‘talking backwards’ – write how you speak and let me know what you want in the first sentence; otherwise you fail.