Author Daniel Pink’s blog has many posts sharing what he calls “Emotionally intelligent signage.” Pink describes these signs as either:
(1) Demonstrating empathy with the viewer, like this sign on the other side of an airport security screening:
(2) Encouraging empathy on the part of the viewer in order to gain compliance with a rule, like this:
What all of the signs are really doing is reminding people that a human being wrote them, which is almost always an improvement for any written communication. Here are some examples for students, parents and counselors of how you might inject some empathy into your writing:
Students, when you’re filling out college applications and writing essays, write like a human. If you’re asked to explain a disciplinary infraction, change this:
During my freshman year, I was disciplined for an incident involving a squirt gun and served a one-day suspension. I apologized and I deeply regret my actions.
To this:
When I was a freshman, my 14-year-old mind thought it would be hilarious to bring a squirt gun to school to draw attention to myself in the hallway. Now I think that kid with the squirt gun was an idiot. I’m embarrassed to even mention it, but I got what I deserved and served a one day suspension.
It’s hard not to like the human behind that rewrite.
Parents, if you’re about to email a teacher to express concern about your student’s performance, first ask your student to speak with the teacher on his own. Then if you feel more action is necessary, send an email, and sound like a human.
I’m writing to ask if you might have time to speak with me about Jason’s performance in your class. Let’s just say he wasn’t exactly forthcoming about his trig troubles. We want to help him but aren’t sure how, and we’re just hoping you might be able to give us some advice.
Counselors, when you distribute your students’ PSAT scores, include a flyer like this to show them that you know what they’re going through:
Students and Parents:
It’s common for families to panic when they see their student’s PSAT scores. But we want to remind you that the PSAT is just a practice test. It’s designed to be a nonthreatening trial version of the SAT before you take the real thing. These scores can’t hurt you. If your scores are high, that’s good news because you will likely do well on the SAT when you take it. But if you don’t like your scores, make an appointment to see us so we can talk about how to use your scores constructively to make good testing decisions. Whatever you do, don’t let what’s in this envelope induce cardiac arrest. You’re all going to be fine.
Most of us have no trouble talking naturally. But when we write, our voice often changes. Whenever you write something, imagine you were there talking to the recipient(s) face-to-face. That will keep your communication human-to-human.