Writing is one method of communication that has gained a lot more traction and attention since the global pandemic and the movement towards all-remote, remote-first, and hybrid work environments.
A well-crafted email or instant message can save a team of 10+ individuals from having to hop onto a call.
A well-organized user test report can make the insights synthesis process so much more efficient.
A well-written one-pager or briefing document can surface outstanding questions, key assumptions to validate, areas of misalignment that require follow-up conversations to be had with a subset of cross-functional folks.
The main benefits that writing provide to me are:
It forcibly slows down my thinking.
Because it slows me down, I more intentionally think about, “How might someone (mis)interpret this?”
I want to make my writing as easily consumable as possible, so after a “crappy first draft,” I typically revise each piece a couple of times, to trim any excess language, reorder different ideas so they’re easier to grasp, and ensure I’ve left the intended audience with clear calls-to-action to conclude the writing.
Writing well takes practice and can be learnt—hence why I’m challenging myself to these 30 days of short-form writing. 😉