Ch. 1

The thing I really enjoyed about this chapter was the step by step analysis of “the message.” At first I thought it was pretty obvious, and even a waste of time. But the two words/ideas that really got me thinking were “encode” and “decode”. I’ve noticed in my experience with email, texting, and other modern, non-verbal communication, that the message the sender intends (encodes) can be very different than how the receiver interprets it (decodes).

I think taking that extra step to really think about how your message might be perceived can really help in making your messages more effective. Sometimes I like to think about the worst possible way that a client/boss/etc… might interpret my message, and then edit from that perspective, just to really be sure I am being understood correctly.

Ch. 7

This chapter had a ton of useful information. I have had experience with writing many of these different types of routine messages, and it was nice to hear what I did right, and what could be improved upon.

For example, I have definitely lost my temper in a claim letter before, only to feel embarrassed later.

I liked the tip of starting with the main idea for routine replies and positive messages. Sometimes I find myself fluffing up the beginning. Getting to the point right away not only alerts the reader as to what they should be thinking about, but also makes the sender look more confident.

I used to think the types of messages in the fostering goodwill section were people just trying to schmooze. When I began receiving goodwill message from people I truly respected though, I quickly realized how good it feels and how effective a sincere message can be.

Ch. 4

This chapter had a ton of great tips for writing brief, effective messages. The you-centered and positive approaches were review but the discussion on active vs. passive voice and strong word choice were both very enlightening. I often find myself wrestling with wordy emails, so I really appreciated all of the lists of more effective word alternatives.

The text is a little cut and dry about a few issues that I think deserve more wiggle room. For example, I see nothing wrong or overly formal with writing “attached please find…”.