I’m talking about all those unanswered emails sitting in your inbox. If you just felt a tinge of guilt when I brought up this issue, no worries. I’m here to help.

Let’s cut right to the chase: when you have a lot of unanswered emails, it causes you stress. Why? Because those are “open loops” of communication.

It’s like having a bunch of open tabs on your internet browser. Every time you see them, you feel guilty because you haven’t dealt with it… but you’re too overwhelmed to do anything about it. So, the problem keeps getting worse and worse.

The result is that you have people who are expecting a response from you. But you’re avoiding their messages, which causes you stress and makes you look unprofessional.

Here’s a little business secret: the most successful professionals are not necessarily the most talented. They are the ones who take action. A lot of deals are made, and a lot of business is done, just because people followed up in a timely way.

You might be the greatest writer in the world. But if you can’t answer your email in a timely way, you will frustrate people who need a response. You will also lose out to other writers who are more responsive and build better relationships with their readers, clients, or customers.

I want you to have GREAT relationships with people and be highly responsive. Here are nine simple tips for getting through all those unanswered emails.

1. Set a timer.

I do this frequently. I’ll set a timer for thirty and sixty minutes and rush like mad to get through my emails for the day. If you have a huge, undefined block of time when you’re working on email, it will take a lot longer than it should.

2. Make decisions quickly.

If an email requires you to decide something, make the decision and move on.

3. Don’t use your inbox as a task list.

If an email requires you to do something, move that action item to a separate list where you can prioritize those tasks. Then get rid of the email.

4. Keep emails short.

My friend David Hancock, founder of Morgan James Publishing, is a master at keeping emails short. You will be amazed at how much more efficient you become when you limit yourself to five sentences per email reply.

5. Set up a call for longer conversations.

I have noticed that many writers send very long, detailed emails. I also do this sometimes but I’m a lot better at it than I used to be. Email is not a very good tool for in-depth conversations.

6. Don’t be everybody’s hero.

We get sucked into email sometimes because people ask for solutions and answers. Use this opportunity to create a lead magnet, blog post, book, coaching package, or resource that answers people’s common questions on your topic. Point people to that instead of answering the same questions over and over again.

7. Reply within 48 hours.

Or better yet, within 24 hours. You can also use the genius technique that my friend Honorée Corder uses, which is setting up an autoresponder that gets sent to people automatically, letting them know you have received their email.

8. Make a video instead of sending an email reply.

I do this often. Instead of sending a long and drawn-out email, I use the Loom app to send a personal video. It’s a nice personal touch that requires less time than writing.

9. Don’t respond to every email.

If someone is critical, out of line, or just plain weird, you don’t have to respond. The email police are not going to arrest you. There is a lot of power in taking control of whom you let into your life, and whom you ignore.

There you have it: nine tips for dealing with those unanswered messages. If you find your email inbox constantly growing and causing you stress, these tips will help you make more mental space for other more important activities.

Today’s Challenge: Choose one of the tips I’ve mentioned and use it immediately. If I had to pick JUST ONE tip, I’d recommend keeping your emails short. That alone will drastically cut down on your email time.

The post Clear the Clutter: Unanswered Emails appeared first on Daily Writer | Essential Habits for Impact & Influence.

As writers, we spend a lot of time focusing on helping other people tell their stories. Maybe you do client work, coaching, run a writing community as I do, or interview others for a podcast, as I do as well. Even if you only write for yourself, much of your time is spent thinking about how you can help other people live a better story.

It is important, however, that we don’t forget about our own stories. Those are perhaps the easiest ones to neglect. It’s easy to downplay or even disregard the value we bring to the table, and what others can learn from our experiences.

That’s why I’m excited to feature a conversation with my friend Danielle Cook. Danielle is a writer and entrepreneur who has worked with over a hundred business owners, creatives, and thought leaders who were ready to break through the noise and speak to the heart of their ideal audience. Whether it’s crafting the book you’ve been dreaming of or writing a bio that strikes the perfect balance of passion and expertise, Danielle can take your ideas and visions that have been swirling in your head and get them down on paper.

Danielle believes that the words we use transform our lives, our businesses, and our world. She is committed to helping anyone who is ready to use their voice to break through the noise and speak to the heart.

In this conversation, Danielle shares her story and how she got involved in business and writing, what it means to own your story, and some actionable steps to writing an engaging bio that uses the magic of story to build the know, like, and trust factors that are so important in communication.

You can connect with Danielle through one of the links below:

Check out Danielle’s website.

Follow Danielle on Instagram.

Connect with Danielle on LinkedIn.

The post Danielle Cook: The Power of Owning Your Story appeared first on Daily Writer | Essential Habits for Impact & Influence.

Have you ever sat in a coffee shop and listened to the conversations happening around you? It’s fascinating.

99% of the time, people are only talking about themselves. Almost everyone in every social situation makes a conversation about them. It is rare to hear someone who is listening empathetically to the other person who is speaking.

It is so rare to listen empathetically because it is so hard to do. It is hard to put our own ego and agenda aside and listen with our full attention to what someone else is saying. To not only listen to the words, but also the emotion and the intent behind it.

In fact, communication experts have told us for decades that there’s far more communication happening in the facial gestures and body language of people than there is in their words. To go even a step further, our words are sometimes even designed to hide what we are really thinking and feeling.

That is why critical listening is so important. It is not only a key part of relating with people, it is also a way for us to learn about human nature. When we listen, it gives us ideas for our writing, whether fiction or nonfiction, and it helps us to better understand other people and ourselves. What could possibly be more important for us as writers than understanding people?

So the next time you’re sitting in a coffee shop or somewhere else where there are conversations happening all around you, listen and learn. Observe the people who are only talking about themselves, but also try to listen for those who are truly paying attention to other people.

It is an interesting social experiment. But it can also help you become a better listener yourself, a skill that pays huge dividends no matter what type of writing you do.

The post Listen and Learn appeared first on Daily Writer | Essential Habits for Impact & Influence.

There is a part of each one of us that wants to be admired. We want to be respected. We want other people to think of us highly. And why not? That is completely in line with human nature. From the dawn of time, men and women have struggled to gain power over one another in order to get the attention and admiration of our peers.

One way we do this as writers is by trying to appear smart. We use big words and sometimes throw in obscure references in the hopes that others will think we are accomplished and intelligent. Many people in the academic world fall prey to this type of thinking, believing that more degrees and titles, and evermore complicated papers—or perhaps a dissertation—will finally earn them the respect they deserve.

This isn’t to say that academic study is a waste of time. But let’s face it—a lot of academic writing has more to do with posturing and making the writer look smart, instead of being truly useful.

Sometimes big words are necessary, of course, depending on the context. However, for the most part, the best writing is simple, clear, and direct.

Think of the most effective communicators in history such as Martin Luther King, Jr., Abraham Lincoln, or Ronald Reagan. They used simple words, told stories, and communicated well in order to make their meaning clear.

The famous novelist Jack Kerouac said, “One day I will find the right words, and they will be simple.” Indeed, the right words are almost always simple, rather than hard to understand.

There is nothing wrong with sounding smart and having other people admire you for your knowledge. But isn’t it so much better to have people actually read your writing, and not only read it, but understand and share it?

The post Would You Rather Be Admired or Be Read? appeared first on Daily Writer | Essential Habits for Impact & Influence.

Everyone knows we live in a world that is increasingly fragmented and fractured. As a communicator, you must learn to interact with the world through empathy, understanding, and compassion.  

In other words, it’s hard to be relevant or successful if you’re not a good listener! That’s why I’m thrilled to have my good friend, Elaine Appleton Grant, as a guest on this episode.  

Elaine Appleton Grant leads Podcast Allies, a podcast production and training company for mission-driven clients who believe in the power of high-quality storytelling. A lifelong journalist, Elaine worked at WBUR (Boston), New Hampshire Public Radio, and Colorado Public Radio. She produced Wondery’s hit podcast Business Wars Daily, which has been downloaded more than ten million times.  

She also wrote Wondery’s American History Teller series, “The Tulsa Race Massacre,” and co-hosted the serialized medical ethics drama Hard Call. Podcast Allies produces Environmental Defense Fund’s Degrees podcast for climate-change-focused jobseekers.  

Elaine has an amazing gift for truly connecting with people in conversation. As you’ll hear, she shares wisdom about how to key in on what others are saying, different aspects of listening, and the value of empathy in today’s world. 

You can connect with Elaine at PodcastAllies.com, Linkedin, Podchaser or Twitter. 

Headshot by KalenJesse.com 

The post Elaine Appleton Grant: How to Develop Your Listening Skills appeared first on Daily Writer | Essential Habits for Impact & Influence.