This vs. That - Elevated Communication

The administrative profession holds both routine and unexpected demands throughout each day. Due to each role being unique, much like your thumbprint, there is no manual that makes it black and white or a no brainer. However, having transitioned from the profession myself, turned into a specialized headhunter, I’ve been blessed with over thousands of hours of 1:1 interactions with admins living this profession each day.  They've shared with me remedies, ideas, and hilarious moments which could help others transition from the “Island” in which we feel and see ourselves living to a place of community.

 As I craft this motivation piece, I hope you discover applicable takeaways that offer insight into areas you can elevate your brand (on the job).

 Why pay closer attention to communication?

The style in which you communicate speaks deeply to how you carry yourself and how you approach relationships.  Each touch point, whether inside or outside of the organization, is a golden opportunity to establish a reputation and expand your Rolodex of connection points with other professionals.

Sometimes people underestimate the power of words and composure when it comes to communication. So, in this article, I’m going to share insight which could help put a spotlight on areas you can evolve when you communicate.

Scenario:

You are emailing with a new, highly regarded VIP executive. You’re organizing a combined dinner between this executive and yours. She doesn't have an assistant, (I know, gasp), so you’re tasked with helping this executive use as little energy as possible to make decisions regarding details for the dinner, so you are set up for success and gain autonomy during the process. The topic here is headcount and invite:

There’s a strong difference between each email. It’s clear that the email on the left is ideal, however, time and time again, I hear (and learn) EAs tackle tasks parallel to the email example on the right. I get it, crafting an email like the one on the left takes more time, but...from this visual you can see so much was gained, therefore the extra time you would expend has a high return. If you were to send an email like the one on the right you lose:

1. A chance to show professionalism in written form.

2. An opportunity to express to the receiver that you understand he/she makes decisions ALL.DAY.LONG and you want to help him/her tackle a task quickly and thoroughly.

3. The possibility to produce a stronger engagement with the executive by offering a quick reward of accomplishment for him/her  and that ‘emotion’ of tackling a task quickly.

Please note, not all executives are only thinkers, many DO have emotions; albeit it’s not always the warm and fuzzy kind, but it’s the fulfilling kind. - Emotion vs. feeling are two different things and it’s important to know the distinction. However, more than half of my 140+ clients have been a combination of both. If you’ve been listening to my podcast, you know I don’t use feeling as a driver, but in some cases, you need to tap into your emotions in order to enhance a connection. In the case with the above emails, the emotion of getting something done quickly is an added connection point with you/your brand, i.e.,  “Great, I accomplished that demand/ask quickly!”, “Things are moving along with the dinner,”, “I saved my executive time and energy.”, etc. 

Each time you craft communication, think about your audience and then think about your brand! You have many micro-moments throughout each day to elevate your brand and strengthen your connections. It’s not always apparent, but curating a well-crafted piece is a form of networking and unspoken accolades. Professionals receive an abundance of emails each day and if you send an email such as the one of the left, you’ll earn trust, a deeper level of engagement, and grow your own confidence!!

Launch Pad: 

1. Begin and end any correspondence with composure and hospitality. 

2. Remember to be an energy saver by crafting concise and TTP (to the point) emails.

3. Understand the difference between emotion vs. feeling. Know when to tap into your emotions in order to enhance a connection with you and your brand. 

If you enjoyed this article, you’ll also enjoy Executive Composure in Written Form

Happy communicating!

Bonus: check out this podcast episode where we cover elevating your communication.