Late at night, Doyun’s phone buzzed three times with messages chasing a deadline.Doyun set his phone face down.The next evening, it was Doyun waiting for a coworker’s reply.He sent one message and began typing another.Then he remembered the three notifications from the night before.He kept only what needed an answer and scheduled the message for the start of the next workday.His coworker replied in the morning. “You sent just what I needed, so I could check it right away.”Doyun added their agreed contact hours to the work schedule.
Zigong asks for one word to live by. Confucius suggests shu, or considering how things feel from another person’s position. Do not do to others what you would not want done to yourself.
Modern adaptation
Doyun remembers the late-night pressure, shortens the message he was about to send, and schedules it for work hours. The two coworkers also agree on when to contact each other.
Takeaway
If you wouldn’t want to be contacted that way, take another look at what you’re sending and when.
Today’s question
Are you hurrying someone in a way that has bothered you before?
