by Mark Kretschmar
What are you trying to accomplish?
When every communication starts with an answer to the above question, the odds of success are much higher. Think about it. Without an answer to that question, how would you know if the communication was successful or not? This is the difference between “responding” and “reacting.” That flame-mail you sent was a reaction. If you had asked yourself, “What do I want to accomplish with this e-mail?” you likely would have done it differently.
A classic example
I was recently working with a great non-profit with a …