Package It Up - Over and Over

Everything moves faster. Our lives rush ahead. We haven't ever been able to master the ability to *really* stay connected through social media. Tell me I'm not the only person who missed a MAJOR life event in a "friend's" world, only to stumble when they say something like, "Well, since James left...." and you were moments from asking about ole Jimmy. It's not your fault. It's life.

But, now that you realize that, and accept that, think about how YOU communicate. Because there's a tool you can use that you're probably not, and it relates.

Package Your Communication

Put the most important points people should know/remember about you EARLY in every interaction you have with people.

"Hey, Chris, what's your big plan for 2023?"

"Well, as Chief of Staff at Appfire, we're still acquiring some new enterprise collaboration software companies to augment what we've already developed. I'm working with the senior team to identify even more ways we can improve the process of getting our biggest objectives completed. That's my big focus for 2023 as it stands."

In my example, I've "stuffed" a bunch of info back into your top of mind. I reminded you of my role (Chief of Staff), the organization I serve (Appfire), how we identify ourselves (enterprise collaboration), and a rough sketch of where I'm going. That way, YOU now have enough to formulate a reply, make your pitch, whatever you have to do.

TV shows do this, often poorly, with clunky exposition:

"Remember, Dad, that I'm not always a fan of airplanes. This isn't going to go well."

(No one talks this way.)

And yet, that's what I'm saying to do.

Why the Package?

People are too busy to be caught up and remember everything you (or your company) are doing. Give them the "package" so that they can feel caught up, feel smart, feel like they're ready to pick up where they mentally left off, and let it go forward from there.

You can use more than one type of package, too. You can catch someone up at the beginning of a conversation, but you can drop little snacks into the midst of communication as well.

"As you know, Appfire helps teams plan and deliver their best work, so it makes sense that we'd acquire a document management company, because documents sure are a huge part of day to day work, aren't they?"

Packages can also be layered more than once into an interaction. You can start off with something that brings the other party up to speed. You can continue on with a reminder of how/why you're there, and you can even end with packaging that reminds the other person of what you value or how you operate, or more.

"In case you hear of any companies working on integration solutions, that's something we'd love to talk about," or "You know, we're still hiring plenty of product managers, so if you've got some fallout from that last transition..."

It all is in the effort of serving the interaction.

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Make sense?

Chris...