At work, people judge you by your messages long before they judge your results. Clear writing is the fastest way to look reliable.
- Put the point first. "Can you approve the Ikeja invoice by 3pm?" before any background.
- One message, one topic. Two topics get half an answer.
- Say what you need and by when. "When you get a chance" means never.
- On WhatsApp at work, write full sentences, avoid voice notes unless asked, and do not post outside working hours unless it is urgent.
- In email, the subject line is the message in five words: "Approval needed: Ikeja invoice, today".
Read every message once before sending, as if you were the person receiving it with no context. Cut anything they do not need.
Exercise: rewrite the last three work messages you sent so the request is in the first line.