Don’t compose your messages in Slack

January 17, 2022

Pro tip: instead of writing your communication out in the app you use to send it, use a distraction-free app such as Apple Notes, Word, or Nisus to do the thinking. 

The same goes for your social media posts, email, critical texts, and anything that requires detail.

This has a few benefits:

No accidental deleting. Sometimes these apps accidentally delete what you wrote — making it very frustrating to re-type and think it! The website crashes, you accidentally close the window, the internet isn’t working properly, etc.

Distraction-free. Red dots with NEW messages appear while you’re trying to write, pulling you out of the zone. 

Autonomy. You don’t have to have the app open to draft your message. For instance, you don’t have to go to Facebook to write your social media post. You don’t have to be in your email app to write the message. This is beneficial because there are times that other apps don’t work the way they’re supposed to.

Knock them all out at once. Have you ever written an email and then someone replies while you’re working on the next piece of communication? If you write your message in a different app, you can write multiple messages of communication before you’re IN the app, making sure you don’t “forget” to send the other important messages once you’re in the stream of incoming messages.

 

Other tips:

Use your task manager. You can write your message to someone in the “notes” section of your task manager — and you can send the message later, at a more-optimal time. This also allows you to keep moving through your task manager instead of having to switch between processing and sending modes.

Get the draft going. Sometimes we procrastinate to write certain messages because we’re starting from scratch. By starting the draft in a different app, you can pause and come back to it before you hit send. How many times have you wished you could have thought more about your reply before sending it? This method helps with that.

Recent blog posts

Did you get my message?

Dealing with people who don’t reply is frustrating. However, when we ask “did you get my message?” it turns out we have a trust

Resistance to a next action

Sometimes we experience resistance when we look at our options for work (next actions). The next action item on the to do list

You don’t need a new computer

You think you need a new computer. You don’t. The work you’ve been called to do can be accomplished with everything you already

Distraction-Free iPhone

Learn how to customize your iPhone or smartphone to avoid distraction and endless scrolling.

A look at the Time Timer

3 minute video on how to visually see time pass. This method is used by CEOs and high-performance teams.

Intro to Pocket Notebooks

The world of notebooks is full of endless possibilities, but today, we will take a look at the trusty and practical pocket notebook.

Best Mac Apps – May 2020

I love the Mac and great apps. While researching and testing them can become a distraction, finding the best tools on the market

Before-we-start agreements

It can be so easy to jump in to a task, a job, or project. However, this can create issues. Have you ever

Direct statements

Listen to this (3½  minutes)   We all have things we wish we could come right out and say, but often don’t for

There will always be opposition

  Have you ever encountered someone who doesn’t agree with your point of view or see things the same way you do? I’m

Decide to focus

  • You must make a choice to focus your attention on something specific.
  • If you don’t choose to focus, someone else will — or you will be driven by the what’s current and catastrophes.
  • The best leaders and thinkers are disciplined about focusing daily.

Influence and impact

One thing you can keep in mind each day is that you have influence and impact as an individual person. It can be common to

Asking “how might we” questions

A powerful tool to help your leadership is to ask great questions. Yes, there is such a thing as a bad question. In school, teachers

Are you on the list?

I send periodic email updates for high-achievers who want to grow.