Dealing with Busy People

Business communication 101.

• Precise messages.
• Short sentences.

• E-mail for what is not urgent.
• Text message for what is urgent.
• Phone call for an emergency.

• Initiate the conversation only when there is a decision to be made.
• Outline that decision to make. In zero or one more sentences.
• Do the research and due diligence before reaching out to a busy person.
• Never bloat communication with unnecessary details.
• Never bloat communication with unnecessary people. 
• Do not follow up without giving a busy person enough time to respond.
• Respect their lack of response as a valid response.

• Help a busy person answer in one sentence. Ideally, one word.
• Assume the conversation is over after the one word response is received.

• Stick to the topic.
• Don’t even try to discuss multiple things simultaneously.

• Never create a liability for a busy person.
• If you are uncertain whether an ask would create a liability, it would.
• If it’s unclear if something deserves attention of a busy person, it does not.

• If someone busy shares this list with you, it’s your final warning.