Take enough time

Take time to be sure you are getting your meaning across to everyone who needs to know. Being too brief can anger people as well as mislead them. Any important job of instruction or persuasion takes time. Telling why is also important when you must say no to someone. Show that you have given his request real thought. And be sure that you actually do give it thought. It’s the peremptory brush-off that causes resentment. In any family and in any organization people hate to be told what to do if they don’t understand why. Blind obedience isn’t part of the American character. I have heard innumerable tales of messages which backfired because they were too brief.