This note is a reference. It’s the kind of text I needed at every company I’ve worked at. Here are some rules to avoid wasting other people’s time in a professional setting:
- Don’t Say Hi: Never DM someone with a “hi” or an “are you around?” and wait for a response. Your first message must include all the context necessary for the other person to reply.
- Meeting Agendas: Meetings must always have an agenda. If you are setting up a meeting with someone you haven’t interacted with before, send them a message explaining the context and purpose of the meeting. Also, the meeting might not be necessary. Most meetings aren’t.
- 1:1 Cancellations: Never cancel 1:1s less than 24 hours before, unless it is an emergency. No-shows are unacceptable, especially when the other person made time outside their work hours.
Send it to people at your workplace. Please respect other people’s time.
