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When to Overcommunicate

blog.glowforge.com

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Re: When to Overcommunicate

#31

Post by bartread »

throwaway713 wrote: post #3

I personally find overcommunication annoying and don't like to hear constant status updates from people; just handle the work and let me know when it's done unless you have any blockers. That said, I've received feedback from multiple people that they never know how my work is progressing, are surprised when it's completed, and would like more status updates along the way, so I think it's safe to say that my preferen…

I don't know that your preferences are that much of an anomaly.

For example, I would say I get too much email so I really don't want more: likewise IMs or other forms of interruption. Like everyone else, I have things I actually need to get done, so constantly fielding incoming communication can become pretty frustrating.

What I do need are timely and relevant updates, not constant updates and over-communication. I prefer dealing with these updates in a structured fashion, whether I'm giving or receiving them - e.g., weekly 1:1s and other scheduled meetings - rather than ad hoc.

Thinking in more general terms, I prefer behaviour and action that is considered rather than reactive. This goes beyond personal preference though: I don't believe it's possible to effectively scale by being reactive or ad hoc in your actions and communications. I also don't believe that people who cannot (or will not) structure their behaviour are suitable for management or leadership in a growing organisation.

Sometimes events require a more reactive approach but I don't believe this should be the norm.

Re: When to Overcommunicate

#32

Post by smolder »

a_imho wrote: post #6

The article is a fluff and mixes a few concepts. Quality over quantity. Quantity is a bad proxy. Not in any particular order but some things more important than quantity: availability, clarity, accuracy, transparency, traceability. Too many people love to listen to their own voice and opinions a bit too much anyway. If I had more time I would have written a shorter comment.

I came here to say this more or less. Overcommunicating is when you communicate things that don't matter. Recognize the value in what you say or don't say properly, and it will follow that it's the right amount. That may mean talking to other people to find out what's valuable to them.

Re: When to Overcommunicate

#33

Post by bartread »

pfyra wrote: post #4
jezclaremurugan wrote: post #2

Anecdotal experience - I've noticed that shipping late by 2 weeks with advance notice to stakeholders is taken way more positively than shipping late by 1 week but informing people late. This seems like plain common sense and required courtesy but I've been on the wrong side of this from both approaches enough times from both sides of the table - people somehow have a block in sharing the bad news (also because in un…

I don't remember where I heard it but "It is OK to disappoint but not OK to surprise" rings so true. Also, the earlier you know you'll be late the bigger the chance is that additional help can avoid the late delivery.

That's my experience too: as long as you keep people up to date and your updates follow some sort of schedule, late delivery is generally tolerated, especially when it can be seen coming from a reasonably long way off.

I always try to front-load the riskiest and most difficult work on projects for this reason: that way you're never in the situation where everything looks fine until it all goes off the rails at the last minute.

Re: When to Overcommunicate

#34

Post by a_imho »

CaptArmchair wrote: post #19
a_imho wrote: post #6

The article is a fluff and mixes a few concepts. Quality over quantity. Quantity is a bad proxy. Not in any particular order but some things more important than quantity: availability, clarity, accuracy, transparency, traceability. Too many people love to listen to their own voice and opinions a bit too much anyway. If I had more time I would have written a shorter comment.

Near the bottom of the article: > And of course, overcommunicating can be taken too far. If you are taking 4 hours to write up a detailed status on a 2-day project, that is obviously not the right return on investment! Get in the habit of writing status that is honest, relevant, and respectful, and also concise.

So? It is still missing the point. Volume is not a good indicator of good communication. Case in point, this is probably just a run of the mill PR piece without much depth to generate some clicks, I came away with a bad taste for wasting my time.

Re: When to Overcommunicate

#35

Post by xbryanx »

George Bernard Shaw probably didn't say that, "The single biggest problem with communication is the illusion that it has taken place." https://quoteinvestigator.com/2014/08/31/illusion/

The source of that aphorism is probably William H Whyte and is better understood with its context about listening.

"LET US RECAPITULATE A BIT: The great enemy of communication, we find, is the illusion of it. We have talked enough; but we have not listened. And by not listening we have failed to concede the immense complexity of our society–and thus the great gaps between ourselves and those with whom we seek understanding."

Re: When to Overcommunicate

#36

Post by macNchz »

jezclaremurugan wrote: post #2

Anecdotal experience - I've noticed that shipping late by 2 weeks with advance notice to stakeholders is taken way more positively than shipping late by 1 week but informing people late. This seems like plain common sense and required courtesy but I've been on the wrong side of this from both approaches enough times from both sides of the table - people somehow have a block in sharing the bad news (also because in un…

This was one of my first real work life "lessons" after college and something that a good manager can really help drive home with junior employees.

Coming from college where deadlines were immutable and professors didn't really care to hear about why some long research paper was taking longer than expected, the idea of telling a boss that you're behind schedule doesn't necessarily come naturally.

Re: When to Overcommunicate

#37

Post by mdgrech23 »

throwaway713 wrote: post #3

I personally find overcommunication annoying and don't like to hear constant status updates from people; just handle the work and let me know when it's done unless you have any blockers. That said, I've received feedback from multiple people that they never know how my work is progressing, are surprised when it's completed, and would like more status updates along the way, so I think it's safe to say that my preferen…

A lot of times in the development world ppl are basically asking you for status updates b/c their boss has pressure on them for things to be complete.

Re: When to Overcommunicate

#38

Post by laks9111 »

specialist wrote: post #21

I wish there were more articles like this about communications, organizational psychology, effective coordination, etc. But mostly, I wish there were ways to recognize, navigate, negotiate people's different styles. TMI from recent my turn at the woodshed: Noob manager (Jane) is unhappy with my communication. Wants more detail. Her prerogative, so I try. So in addition to adjacent desks, always on Skype, standups, st…

Managers who always demand more communication are clueless and try to justify their existence.

The best course of action is to ignore them entirely.

Re: When to Overcommunicate

#39

Post by luord »

The example given for negative feedback is kind of at odds with the point of the article itself.

Seems like, in that case, the managers themselves didn't communicate until they had to, and even though they were seeing a problem, they didn't communicate earlier. Now it's in the onus of the employee to give constant updates else he risks losing his job, even though he wasn't given constant updates from the other direction in the first place.

In general, the article seems to be saying "tell everything to the managers, make their jobs easier", and here I thought one of the responsibilities of management was making work easier for the employees.

Sure, communicate, but it should be in both directions.

Re: When to Overcommunicate

#40

Post by hairofadog »

specialist wrote: post #21

I wish there were more articles like this about communications, organizational psychology, effective coordination, etc. But mostly, I wish there were ways to recognize, navigate, negotiate people's different styles. TMI from recent my turn at the woodshed: Noob manager (Jane) is unhappy with my communication. Wants more detail. Her prerogative, so I try. So in addition to adjacent desks, always on Skype, standups, st…

Same: I struggle with finding a balance between too much and too little information for different people. For a while I wrote detailed, (and in my opinion, clear) status reports for my higher-ups, but nobody ever read them, so I stopped.

There was a line in an old TV show that stuck with me: one of the characters asks, “When’s the date of that dinner again?” The other character says, “It’s Saturday, I just told you that.” The first character replies, “Yeah, but I only listen when I ask.”

In my experience, each person has their own way of listening, and it’s a challenge to keep straight who consumes information in which way:

* Person A only reads the first line of any email, so you have to ask each question or offer each nugget of information in a separate email and there can only be a maximum of two sentences in the message

* Person B only wants to be told the information verbally in the hallway or in a meeting or over lunch, not in written form

* Person C has a lot going on and only has mental RAM, no long-term storage, so they want to be reminded of everything repeatedly: “Just a reminder, I’m out Feb. 15th.” Then “Just a reminder, I’m out next week.” Then, “Just a reminder, I’m out later this week.” then, “Just a reminder, I’m out tomorrow.”

* Person D needs quantified data, charts, and graphs

Etc. I’m not complaining – it’s the human condition, it is what it is – but personally I find it challenging to thread the needle.

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