Why does writing matter in remote work? — Tim Casasola

Many extroverts had a gala time in physical meetings, as their social interactions and energy kept them at the centre of attention. The quiet introverts, who might be great at implementing the ideas bounced on the table, were sidelined.

Remote work and the focus on the written word is the introvert's revenge, as now the scales are balanced towards merit and real results.

People can take time to examine the problem or issue, and provide their input, something which isn’t possible in meetings.

Writing forces individuals and teams to think clearly and participate in a productive discussion. Writing also invites people to rectify mistakes, and point out gaps in the idea. Added opinions, suggestions and corrections are a good thing for the project or the main idea.

1. Get to the point quickly.
2. Write as if explaining to a newbie or someone who doesn’t know what you do.
3. If you are using acronyms, spell them out.
4. Focus on the key idea at all times, from start to finish. Also add a summary and next action point to move forward.
5. Provide options to invite engagement, like by using a poll.
6. Do not use a passive voice.
7. Shorter sentences work extremely well, but can turn monotonous. Use varied sentence lengths, but keep the format simple.
8. No rambling.