Mindful messaging

You’re texting a PM over chat.

What do you say? What do you point to?

You’re presenting a new feature to a room full of people who don’t do your job.

What do you show them? What do you tell them?

Too often, we forget that the people listening rarely have all the information we have—or the context we take for granted.

We assume they know what we know—especially the obvious parts.

We also forget that how we communicate—what we choose to say, how we say it, and how we present it—is an experience in itself.

That experience can be poor, satisfactory, or it can be delightful—if we put in the effort to make it so.

It helps to study the best speakers; to watch how they communicate visually and verbally. Observing their pacing helps too.

Remember: you’re never just passing along information. Whether you’re sharing your work or asking a question, you’re shaping how others understand, feel, and engage with what you have to say.

As with most things we make, it pays to be a little intentional—because even small choices in how we communicate can make a big difference.