Other people's behaviour acts as a cue for what to do, buy, or believe.
More quotesA long vague email is a decision the sender has outsourced. Background expands because background is easier than committing to an ask.
“Could you send me the thing we discussed? Need it fairly soon as there are a few moving parts and people are asking. Happy to chat.”
This message contains warmth, urgency and almost no usable instruction. Which thing? Signed or draft? Which supplier? By when? What should the recipient actually do beyond absorbing the sender’s atmosphere?
The replies multiply. “Which thing?” “The supplier document.” “Draft or signed?” “Signed if possible.” “Today?” “Earlier would help.” “Which supplier?” Seventeen lines later, the request finally exists: send the signed North Street Foods Ltd agreement by 3pm.
Email overload is blamed for the resulting chain as though the medium wrote the first foggy sentence itself. The inbox merely preserves each missing decision and charges another exchange when somebody discovers it.
“Thoughts?” is the most efficient version of the trick. It turns uncertainty into a task for every recipient. Approve, choose, review, admire or merely acknowledge: conscientious readers attempt several; busy readers attempt none.
The signed PDF arrives at 11.19. At 11.23 somebody copied throughout asks whether they need to do anything. The sender replies, “No action for you.”