Mastering Texts: How Clear Communication Can Save Your Leadership

Leadership is hard enough when you’re communicating clearly. Don’t make it any harder by miscommunicating.

Take, for example, text messages. They can be so easily misconstrued.

Messages have no facial expressions or tone of voice. They can be read in an angry, sarcastic or humorous voice – each of which would radically change the meaning of the message.

That’s why I’ve always made it a point to say to all my EA’s over the years: “Please give all my messages a calm and kind voice – because if I’m wanting to deliver critical feedback, I’ll call you, I won’t text you.”

This is also why it’s good practice to often include an emoji at the end of your texts.

Take, for example, the different meanings that you may attribute to the following replies:

1. No way. 😔
2. No way. 😯
3. No way. 🙌🏼

Commiseration, consternation or congratulation. Which is it? Don’t leave it to the recipient to decide.