Page 3 - MIL Leadership Line: February 2023

Make the Call

Phone conversations are the next best thing to face-to-face communications as it can
provide the same real-time communication.

“When responding to an email, if it becomes long- “In a day and age in which our lives are surrounded,
winded, or has multiple “what if” scenarios, the and constantly bombarded with social media alerts
response is probably better to be made via a phone call, and chat posts, it can be quite easy for someone to
then documented.” become accustomed to using digital communications for

-Marty Bailey, VP DoD ETS Sector “meaningful” conversation… professionals are finding
themselves in a pickle in regard to personal interaction,
and the ability to create a valuable human connection.
Find a reason to take your fingers off the keyboard, get
to know your fellow teammates, and customers, and
MAKE THE CALL!”

-Jerome Roubieu, AVP DoD Cyber Sector

Focus on Problem Solving

It’s fine to search the Internet and scan magazine and newspaper articles, but you can physically control what lands
in your inbox by not searching so much and then by searching only for what you need.

Tips for streamlining your
communication habits

Check your emails at set intervals throughout Encourage your colleagues to give you the
the day information in a brief format
If you have some flexibility in your work, close When people are advising you of any information,
your inbox or turn off notifications so you don’t get tell them you would like to receive this in a shortened
prompted every time an email is delivered. format. For example, bullet points for emails and reports
Did you know? or five minutes if it’s verbal.
Over-checking your email wastes 21 minutes per What channel should you use?
day. On average, profesionals check their email 15 » A phone call is for detailed, long, difficult or
times per day, or every 37 minutes. Do most people emotional conversations.
expect a response within that time frame? No. » Email is for brief, informative and/or instructional
Source: How to Stop Wasting 2.5 Hours on Email Every information.
Day » Chat is for general announcements, news, informal
messages, team collaborating and socializing.
Create folders in your inbox to triage important » Video (Zoom, FaceTime, Teams, etc.) is for long,
information feedback-rich, focused, emotional or difficult
In the same way that triage works in a hospital conversations.
to determine priority patients, creating folders in
your inbox can help you prioritize and usefully
categorize incoming mail in order of importance.