Ep 57 - Chris Fenning, Award-Winning Author of Effective Emails -- How To Write Effective Emails: A Communications Expert vs ChatGPT

Learn more about Michael Wenderoth, Executive Coach: www.changwenderoth.com SHOW NOTES: Chris Fenning, award-winning author of Effective Emails, wants e-mail to stop being such a time sink, and help you write ones that get to the point, and get results. In this episode, Chris analyzes and rewrites two e-mails, which Michael also runs through ChatGPT. You assess the difference – but listen closely to Chris’s thought-provoking critique. When it comes to communicating clearly and concisely, the hard truth is that there’s a lot on the line: Business e-mails suck up more than 2 hours a day, and poor communication is one of the top reasons people don't get promoted.Isn’t e-mail dead? Why Chris wrote his book.How being clear, concise and organized will help you in all your communication.A key difference between written and spoken communicationKeys: Structure, introduction and framingThe evidence and research that backs his recommendationsTip #1: The surprising benefit of adding “white space”Tip #2: “Short and brief” improves response rate and retention by 60%When to use e-mail – and when NOT to use e-mailTip #3: Audit your last 5 emailsCase Study#1: Chris analyzes a dense, info-rich email (for copies of the Before-After, visit: https://changwenderoth.com/podcast/)Tip #1: Lots of text will cause people to put your email aside for later.. or neverTip #2: Instead of long URL’s, do this insteadTip #3: Pick one powerful point! (Beware of cognitive overload)Tip #4: Subject lines: When you read it, do you know what it’s about – and why you need to open it?”Tip #5: A lot of information is ok, but the key is how you structure it and highlight itTip #6: Requests and actions: make them stand out by doing 2 thingsTip #7: Summarize and be explicit at the beginning (Don’t bury the lede!)Tip #8: Add white space to mark where the message ends, and the info beginsTip #9: Provide structure with headings, and put info in small chunksTHE TOP TAKEAWAY FROM CASE #1 (Because no one reads a long e-mail)Case #2: Chris analyzes an email between an assistant and their boss (for copies of the Before-After, visit: https://changwenderoth.com/podcast/)Tip #1: Subject lines should address topic AND purpose: What are they supposed to do with the message?Tip #2: Make it easy for the other person to avoid ambiguity and unintentional problemsTip #3: When to write separate emails, instead of just oneTip #4: If there’s a deadline or time frame, highlight it!Tip #5: Be consistent with your structure and highlightsHow to prevent “whack a mole” e-mails that multiplyYou be the judge: Michael compares Chris’s rewrite vs a ChatGPT rewriteChris’s thought-provoking critique of ChatGPT’s workmanship.Making your e-mail effective always come back to this one thingMichael’s half-serious musing: How to rewrite the prompt in ChatGPT, to make the e-mail rewrite better?Chris’s personal bugbear: never do this when you forward an e-mail! BIO AND LINKS: Chris Fenning is on a mission to help make communication less painful. Through his books, keynotes and training programs, he helps technical and business professionals communicate clearly – and get results. His award-winning books (The First Minute and Effective Mails: How to Start Conversations That Get Results; and Effective E-mails: The Secret to Straightforward Communication at Work) show you how to be concise, step by step. His insights draw from tens of thousands of conversations, decades leading technical and business teams across the world, and training individuals and teams from start-ups to Fortune 50 companies. He occasionally uses ChatGPT. Chris’s Website and Book link: www.chrisfenning.comChris on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-fenning/Links to the Before-Afters (visuals/emails) referenced in the podcast: https://changwenderoth.com/podcast/)Chris provides practical, bite-sized videos: https://chrisfenning.com/videos/Chris on how to improve your spoken communication – a previous episode on 97% Effective: https://tinyurl.com/46555wxzMichael’s Book, Get Promoted: https://tinyurl.com/453txk74Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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