Over the past 5 years, I shifted to working in an almost exclusively virtual environment. One of my observations is that people (myself included) tend to share less of the ‘why’ behind their decision making and thinking than they might otherwise do when in person. It is easier for most people to explain something verbally than it is to communicate it in writing. This has a cost.
One of the critical ways employees learn from their colleagues and bosses is by understanding the thinking that goes into decisions. It’s harder to develop mental models and expertise without understanding the frameworks and rationale people use to make conclusions. This applies to simple and daily tactical questions (e.g., how should we price this project? Should we accept this job or not? Is that person the right candidate for the role?), as well as strategic ones.
When responding to a question in Teams/Slack, it’s much easier to give direction or the answer and takes a more deliberate and intentional effort to add in something like “and here’s how I came to that decision” or “this is the rationale I’m basing my choice on”. I’ve started to make a better effort to include that and have noticed an immediate positive impact.
It’s not only for the benefit of employees who are learning and developing. It also aids in discussion among peers and within the team. If you explain your rationale, it opens the door for reactions and counter-points or considerations you may not have thought of. You’re going to come to better decisions with input from others and you’re going to receive better input if you create the circumstance that invites it.
And here’s the best part: I’ve noticed if you CAN make it a point to include your rationale in writing, the discussion is often even better than it would be verbally in person. Putting it in writing forces you to be more articulate, it creates a record to refer to, and it gives the recipient(s) additional time to contemplate and respond, which they may be unable to do if it’s occurring real-time during a verbal conversation.