For example I’ll send an e-mail with 3 questions and will only get an answer to one of the questions. It’s worse when there are 2 yes/no questions with a question that is obviously not a yes/no question. Then I get a response of

Yes

back in the e-mail. So which question are they answering?

Mainly I’m asking all of you why do people insist on only answering 1 question out of an e-mail where there are multiple? Do people just not read? Are people that lazy? What is going on?

Edit at this point I’ve got the answers . Some are too lazy to actually read. Some admit they get focused on one item and forget to go back. I understand the second group. The first group yeah no excuse there.

Continuing edit: there are comments where people have tried the bullet points and they say it still doesn’t help. I might put the needed questions in red.

  • ALoafOfBread@lemmy.ml
    4·
    4 days ago

    Hi andrewta,

    Your issue with incpmplete responses might be because you aren’t structuring your emails in ways that reduce the cognitive load on the recipient.

    If your message is too complicated, it is more likely busy or distracted recipients will miss something. Try these steps:

    1. Use short, easy to read paragraphs.
    1. Avoid complex sentence structures. Use short, easy-to-parse sentences instead.
    1. Avoid jargon or flowery language.
    1. Clearly highlight all requests/questions/actions you expect the recipient to respond to.

    Communication works both ways and will work better if you communicate clearly. This may not eliminate all problems with incomplete responses, but we can all be better communicators.

    Thanks,

    ALoafOfBread