Summary: Wes Kao’s newsletter emphasizes the importance of writing clear and thoughtful responses instead of defaulting to calls for discussions. He argues that taking the time to formulate a written reply is more efficient and can improve how others perceive your communication skills. Ultimately, he encourages readers to invest in their thinking and crafting responses rather than relying on real-time conversations.
You can’t escape the work of thinking. As a knowledge worker, you are paid for your good judgment.
The thinking has to happen sometime, either before you answer in Slack or before you answer on a call. (View Highlight)
People generally read faster than they listen. People can read at their own pace. They can reread key parts to boost their comprehension. But they can only listen to you at one pace. So your recipient actually has less control when listening to you speak than when reading a written message. (View Highlight)