What food types are your communications? Are they….
Impenetrable stodge
Hard to get through. We feel worse after it. It takes ages to absorb. We don’t even want most of it.
Worst of all? There’ll be another one soon.
(Real life example – the detailed technical briefing)
The frequent sandwich
One’s fine. But there are too many. I’m still stuffed from the last one.
Fewer and smaller would be good. Some days, I don’t want any.
(Real life example – updates)
Chips and custard
One of these might’ve been ok. But not the other one. And definitely not them both together – that’s just horrific.
(Example: the quarterly Big Update – that tells us everything that’s happened)
Eat soup with your hands
This one’s a shame. The food’s nice…
… But we swap the right tool (a spoon) for the wrong one (our hands).
It’s messy, wasteful, irritating … why are we being forced to do it this way?
(Real life example – the difficult conversation that should’ve been a chat, but someone hid behind an email)
Espresso
Can be useful. A perky, short boost.
As long as I don’t have too many of them – and start experiencing crashing feelings of doom.
(Real life example – punchy 121s)
Healthy balance – little and often
If only all food was like this!
Gives us energy, enjoyment and focus. Our lives are better because of it.
(Real love example – sadly, there aren’t enough real-life ones! So, let’s change that …
Action Point
Make your communications more of a healthy balance – little and often. Maybe with a little expresso now and again.
And, for all your current comms which are impenetrable stodge, daily bloating sandwiches – please stop them!