Communicate Details When Planning Your Book
By Marcus Isom
Communication works for those who work at it. – John Powell
Everyday projects, work, and even home life are becoming increasingly complex. It is important to account for all the little areas and details in order for things to run smoothly, and to prevent mistakes from happening. Here are some tips on how to best communicate those vital specifics.
Detail Discovery
Take time to discover what details need to be addressed within a given project. Jot down anything that comes to mind. You may be surprised to find out how much was not considered. For instance, with book publishing, many details are involved just for the page paper. There’s size, weight, color/tone, material, page count, and ink type, just to name a few. The cover often has its own special paper and frills.
Bullet Trained
Bullet point lists can be a great way to get your details and ideas relayed clearly for others to see. Instead of a novel-sized e-mail or a 20 minute dissertation, simply type or frame your conversation around a main point or introduction. Follow it with a series of bulleted details. This enables the receiving party to process the information much more quickly, and helps prevent common errors, like missing an important step. Bullets are like a road map for sharing your thoughts!
What’s the Point?
What is the other person supposed to do with what you’re telling them, or why are you sending that e-mail? What do your details apply to?
Trying to answer all these questions in one or two clear sentences from the start of your conversation or message can help keep your requests and thoughts from getting lost in the shuffle. When sending an e-mail, go a step further, and make sure the subject line is in conjunction with the main idea of the message. Do it just right, and it’ll stand out, making it easy for another person to find, process, and act on it.
Proper Mention
Consider where, when, and in what messages or discussion you include your details or questions. Some things are best kept closed-ended and focused on the topic at hand. Bringing up unrelated details and questions in these situations can distract the other person and increase their chances of giving an answer that’s not as well thought out. Let’s say someone is discussing business trip arrangements with their boss; it’s probably not the best time to bring up the fact that the employee wash room needs more paper towels to be ordered.
There are thousands of ways to use and apply these tips. Putting them into practice in everyday conversation, e-mail, letters, smoke signals, text messaging, infrared beacons, or whatever you use, will help you become a better communicator of those fine details in life.
Marcus Isom is a general office assistant at WinePress.
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