"Why are you telling me this now?"

This is a comment that managers hear a lot. It sounds like a throwaway. But it actually expresses some important concerns that managers need to take seriously. Here's a tip I learned from a colleague many years ago. Before I deliver a message, I break the phrase down in my mind word by word:

Why:
What is the reason for telling the recipient this – is it to train, inform, solicit information? Will the recipient understand what you’re asking for?

are you:
Am I, the manager, the right person to be delivering this message? Should it maybe come from a peer, a leader or another third party?

telling:
Am I using the right method to deliver the message? Should this be a face to face, email, conference call?

me:
Am I giving the message to the right person?

this:
What am I trying to say? What do I want people to take away?

now?:
Is this the right time to be sending such a message?

This quick and easy-to-remember process helps me to verify what I want to communicate and makes it more likely that the communication will be successfully received and acted on.

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