One of the best lessons I learnt in my career ,was to “think before I ink”. I started my career ,in the early eighties ,in India. I worked in a steel plant, which was a complex process industry and had millions of people employed ,in the country.

Most of our communication in organisations ,were through written notes for decisions, approvals and so on. We had not seen computers or any other electronic ways of transmitting information ,till the late eighties. This meant we could only talk to each other or write to each other, to exchange information and take decisions.

As youngsters starting our career in large public sector organisations, we were trained ,through a structured programme of how organisations worked and then made to work in teams ,to get things done. We had just come out of our colleges and many of us were keen to express ourselves and show off our command over language, through our notes.

I can share one such incident in my career, which taught me, one of the best lessons in communication ,at the work place. I was exchanging notes with a colleague on a contentious issue, where both of us had conflicting views ,on the same subject. While we sat ,just a few meters away from one another, we were trying to excel in the language of our communication ,more than the content or the value add. When this note went to our our head of the department, he called both of us ,to his room.

If you are not able to talk ,since the other person is sitting a few kilometres away or in another city, then kindly pick up the phone and talk to each other and sort it out. Only if you are not able to walk across and talk to each other or talk on the intercom, which the company has provided, will you write a note from today.

He further went on to explain ,how a written word on a note is irreversible and may create a deeper misunderstanding ,than one can imagine. While talking, we may agree to disagree or even forget any harsh words exchanged. But, when we exchange rough language ,in written communication ,it is etched in paper and in our hearts. So, kindly remember ,this basic skill of effective communication from today.

He told us, that he has gone through our notes and was impressed with our use of language. We both thought we were being appreciated for our command ,over the english language. He then made us sit down and told us ,that he wants to share a simple rule of communication in life and work. He said that ,you both sit just a few meters away from one another. So, at the first instance, if you do not agree with the other person, just walk across and talk to the other person and resolve the differences.

Even if we think of it today, this advice is invaluable ,not only at work but in life as well. We have to first speak to one another, preferably in person. If not possible, at least on phone before we write to one another. A written document could become ,like a ballistic missile , which could boomerang and hit us back, before we realise it.

Even in the days of whatsapp and email, this lesson is very useful. We need to remember that email and whatsapp ,do not have emotions but humans do. So before we write an email or send a whatsapp, we need to speak first and then think ,before we write.

We could recall email and delete whatsapp messages , before they are read but it does leave a trail that an email has been recalled or a whatsapp has been deleted and that may also create avoidable misunderstandings ,in the minds of the receiver.

So, let us learn to think before we ink, from today.

S Ramesh Shankar

4th May 2025