Let’s talk about a workplace epidemic that’s driving me up the wall: context-free communication. It’s the silent productivity killer, lurking in your inbox and calendar, waiting to turn your day into a guessing game. Let me share two recent masterpieces from my own experience that perfectly capture this madness.
Situation 1: When Nobody Mentions What We’re Actually Doing
It all started months ago. Some project partner wanted to get in touch, so they emailed my boss. My boss, being the diligent delegator, CC’d me and said, “Hey, [Me] is responsible for this specific sub-division, which you might need for your project.” Great, I thought. I’m ready. I’m responsible. Let’s do this (whatever it is).
Fast forward several weeks.
Suddenly, the project partner replies to that thread. But instead of actually talking about the project, they ask if their new employee can contact me. What? My boss literally gave them my contact info for this exact purpose! Why are we still stuck at the “may I speak to you?” stage? Just send the person my way already!
But here’s the real kicker:
At no point in this entire thread does anyone mention what the project is actually about. Not a single word. And sure, maybe my boss mentioned it to me, once, months ago. But am I supposed to remember every vague project detail from every passing conversation? I’ve had dozens of projects, hundreds of emails, and a thousand other things on my mind since then! Unless you expect me to have a photographic memory and a psychic hotline, you can’t just assume I’ll recall what “the project” is.
Should I start keeping a diary of every conversation, just in case someone resurrects a thread from the dead? Or maybe I should invest in a time machine so I can go back and remind myself what this was all about.
Situation 2: Jour Fixe or Jour Confuse? The Mystery of the Context-Free Meeting
Next up, the mysterious world of calendar invites. Someone schedules a meeting called “project jour fixe.” No project name, no agenda, no hint of what it’s about. Just “jour fixe.” I guess I’m supposed to show up and hope for the best?
But wait, it gets better. The next day, I get an update: the meeting is now titled “jour fixe from 7th cancelled.” On the 8th. So, not only was I supposed to know what this meeting was for, but now I’m supposed to retroactively understand that it’s cancelled after the fact. Again, zero context. No project mentioned. No explanation. Just a cryptic message in my calendar, like a clue in a scavenger hunt I never signed up for.
Why Is Context So Hard?
Seriously, why is it so difficult for people to add a sentence or two of context?
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“This is about the XYZ migration project.”
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“We need your input on the ABC rollout.”
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“The meeting is to discuss DEF deliverables.”
Is that so much to ask? Instead, I’m left playing detective, piecing together clues from email signatures and vague subject lines. It’s exhausting. It’s inefficient. And it makes everyone look bad. What Am I Supposed to Do?
Am I supposed to reply with, “Hi, could you please tell me what this is about?” every single time? Should I just ignore these messages and hope they go away?
The Bottom Line
If you’re reaching out to someone-especially after weeks of radio silence-give them context. Tell them what the project is, why you’re contacting them, and what you need.
Let’s all agree: context isn’t optional. It’s the bare minimum.
So please, for the love of sanity, add some context next time you hit send. Your colleagues (and their overworked memories) will thank you.