As reads: Change to:
" To write is human, to edit is divine " Stephen King
Communication is an essential part of leadership and it goes wrong daily if not hourly in organizations. Here is a wonderful editing tool and a great way to communicate clearly as a leader that I've used throughout my years. I learned it from a military planner in the early 2000's. Planners in the military are known to be intelligent, articulate, and able to consume and translate volumes of information. The U.S. Army has a separate course - SAMS, The School of Advance Military Studies for these gifted individuals. Officers who attend and graduate from the course are labeled, "SAMS" officers as a badge of honor. They carry this label throughout their career. I'm not a SAMS guy.
Late one evening as the Iraq and Afghanistan wars were underway, an order from the Army's famed XVIII Airborne Corps needed adjustment. A specific task written wrong or had become irrelevant. It was in need of changing. The Army operated 24/7 so a planner was called in after hours to make the change. He used the "As reads:, Change to:" method. I thought it was a clear and effective way of communicating so, like many concepts in the Army, I engaged in some 'professional theft.'
In a variety of scenarios, when I must communicate clearly in written word I use it. For the 'As Reads:' part, I'll simply paste whatever needs changing in its original form. For 'Change to:' I'll rewrite it as it needs to be. This leaves no doubt as to what needs to be changed. The alternative is to explain the adjustment which often gets lost in translation. There is risk here as you may stifle creativity by directing exactly what needs to be written. You can preface your editing by, "tell me what you think of this change."
As reads: "Rob Campbell's weekly blogs are helpful only to seasoned senior leaders established in their positions." Change to: "Rob Campbell's weekly blogs are helpful to both established senior leaders seeking continued growth and to junior leaders eager to mature their leadership by learning from others."
As leaders it is imperative that we communicate clearly. Often we are forced to do this via email or other programs which facilitate wider communication. Place this method in your kit bag!
Make it Personal!
Rob
Rob Campbell