The hottest Communication Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Technology Topics

Discussion thread #2: Your best examples of the "leaden mean"?

Building the Builders • 3 implied HN points • 16 Dec 24
🎭️ Culture Communication
  1. Striking a balance can sometimes lead to a 'leaden mean', which is a situation that creates more problems than it solves. It's better to fully commit to one side or the other rather than trying to do both poorly.
  2. Examples of the 'leaden mean' include awkward hybrid meetings where people are split between in-person and virtual attendance, or relationships where partners hold on to their individual spaces instead of truly coming together.
  3. This phenomenon often happens when we feel indecisive or afraid to commit. Recognizing when we're at risk of choosing the 'leaden mean' can help us make better decisions.

On News-fasting

Charles Eisenstein • 3 implied HN points • 04 Dec 24
🕹 Technology Communication
  1. Taking a break from news can help clear your mind and reduce stress. It's important to focus on what really matters to you instead of getting overwhelmed by constant updates.
  2. Artificial intelligence is a significant technology that's changing our world. Understanding its impacts is crucial as we navigate through its early developments.
  3. Long-form writing can be challenging to share on platforms like Substack. It's sometimes better to break up big ideas into smaller pieces for clearer communication.
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Join my new subscriber chat

Rough Diamonds • 3 implied HN points • 06 Nov 24
🕹 Technology Communication
  1. There's a new chat space just for subscribers that allows for real-time discussions and updates.
  2. To join the chat, you'll need to download the Substack app and turn on push notifications.
  3. Once you're in the app, you can easily find and join the chat to connect with others and share your thoughts.

Shape of "Trust" - Pt 3: Roads - When Teams Lack Trust

Building Rome(s) • 7 implied HN points • 13 Jan 24
💼 Business Communication
  1. Trust is vital for effective teamwork, based on collaborative problem-solving, honesty, respect, mutual support, and open communication.
  2. Undermining factors of trust among teams include ego, politics, incompetence, and failure of leadership.
  3. Technical Program Managers (TPMs) can address challenges by promoting humility, managing relationships, identifying struggles, and advocating for transparency.

Write It Down

Perspectives • 11 implied HN points • 17 May 23
💼 Business Communication
  1. Writing things down can drive alignment in teams by clarifying differences and options
  2. Documenting discussions helps ensure clarity and avoids misunderstandings
  3. Writing down goals increases accountability and boosts the chance of success

✅ Monday briefing #16: Industry report, conversational surveys, buzzword busting, Google analytics update, talk to me, Facebook group therapy, Zoom marketplace, personal data control, and more

Wadds Inc. newsletter • 19 implied HN points • 19 Oct 20
🕹 Technology Communication
  1. The COVID-19 Communications Industry Report highlights how professionals adapted and innovated during the crisis, showing resilience and new opportunities.
  2. There are new tools designed to help with research, time tracking, and media relations, aimed at making marketing and PR work more efficient.
  3. A new privacy standard allows users to control their personal data better by instructing websites not to sell or share their information.

#52: A year and change

The Uncertainty Mindset (soon to become tbd) • 19 implied HN points • 28 Oct 20
🎭️ Culture Communication
  1. Writing a newsletter regularly helped in becoming more comfortable with public writing. It was hard at first, but it got easier over time.
  2. This experience showed that sharing ideas publicly can reduce the fear of being judged and encourages clearer communication.
  3. Looking ahead, there's an openness to changing the newsletter's focus and format for the next year, inviting ideas from readers.

Tell People What You Want

Perspectives • 12 implied HN points • 28 Feb 23
💼 Business Communication
  1. Tell people what you want so they can help you achieve it
  2. Open doors by being open to possibilities and learn to ask for what you want
  3. Give people permission to help you by being clear and specific in your asks

The Surprising Trick to Consistent, High-Quality Output (It's Not Talent)

WriMoReMo • 2 implied HN points • 23 Jan 25
📚 Literature Communication
  1. Reading widely helps you gather ideas and information. The more you know, the easier it is to write about interesting topics.
  2. Writing consistently is key to improving your skills. Just like throwing darts, not every piece will be great, but the more you write, the better you get.
  3. Mixing different ideas together can make boring topics more engaging. By connecting various points, you create a more intriguing narrative.

Reading the Room

Perspectives • 10 implied HN points • 11 Apr 23
💼 Business Communication
  1. Reading the room is a crucial interpersonal skill that helps you understand what others are saying and contribute meaningfully.
  2. Learning to read the room is a skill that can be developed through practice and self-awareness.
  3. To become a better communicator and collaborator, try placing yourself in others' shoes, understanding their motivations, reflecting on your biases, and learning their language.

Why vaccine misinformation is winning the information war

Weaponized • 5 HN points • 17 Mar 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Communication
  1. Misinformation about vaccines is spreading faster than efforts to debunk it, limiting the impact of accurate information campaigns.
  2. Addressing vaccine misinformation needs to consider the complex reasons why people fall for it, such as political beliefs or past mistreatment by authorities.
  3. Combatting vaccine misinformation requires more than just sharing facts, it's crucial to understand the root causes of hesitancy and engage with empathy and trust.

Compliments

We're Gonna Get Those Bastards • 5 implied HN points • 18 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Communication
  1. Compliments can have a lasting impact and are appreciated, so it's important to give and receive them.
  2. Compliments should not be taken for granted in relationships, as they are crucial for maintaining affection and admiration.
  3. Recognition and compliments are powerful motivators, providing psychological rewards beyond material gains.

Conscious Renegotiation: a Skill for Your Relationship

Perspectives • 9 implied HN points • 14 Mar 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Communication
  1. Conscious renegotiation in a relationship involves discussing and setting clear expectations for shared responsibilities.
  2. Effective communication and continuous discussion are essential for maintaining a healthy and equitable partnership.
  3. Agreeing on ownership of tasks, avoiding complaints about how things are done, and revisiting responsibilities help in sustaining a balanced relationship.

Interview with the ETSI Standards Organization That Created TETRA "Backdoor"

Zero Day • 7 HN points • 25 Jul 23
🕹 Technology Communication
  1. TETRA radio communication technology used by police and critical infrastructure was found to have a backdoor, reducing encryption strength.
  2. Keeping encryption algorithms secret can hinder security, as seen in the TETRA case where a deliberate weakness was discovered.
  3. ETSI created new secret algorithms to address vulnerabilities, but the debate continues on whether secrecy is the best approach for security.

Breaking into Industry as a Social Scientist

TeamCraft • 6 implied HN points • 09 Oct 23
🚌 Education Communication
  1. In industry jobs, social scientists are valuable for their ability to work with messy human data, a common scenario in most companies.
  2. Social scientists applying to industry jobs should highlight skills like problem-solving, meeting deadlines, and working with constraints, rather than just academic achievements.
  3. It's important for social scientists to market themselves effectively in job applications by focusing on what they bring to the table in a language that hiring managers can appreciate.

Decoding Business-Speak with AI: The Power and Paradox of Large Language Models

Nick Savage • 8 implied HN points • 05 May 23
🕹 Technology Communication
  1. Large Language Models like ChatGPT can be helpful in streamlining professional communication.
  2. There is an asymmetry in communication between bosses and subordinates, leading to different levels of formality in email communication.
  3. The use of Large Language Models in business communication raises questions about the value of using elaborate business-speak and the necessity of such technology.

TWH#S6: What I Read This Week

The Hagakure • 8 implied HN points • 12 Mar 23
💼 Business Communication
  1. Tech companies often struggle with planning and hitting targets despite available wisdom.
  2. Being a great manager of managers involves coaching, developing the team, and sensing the organization.
  3. Life and work should focus on enjoying the journey, not just winning finite games.

GRANTED: The value of going outdoors, outside your expertise, and to the outsiders inside your team

Granted • 19 implied HN points • 03 Mar 19
💼 Business Communication
  1. Spending time outdoors has benefits like increased test scores for kids in Finland and lower mental health disorders for adults near green spaces
  2. Hiring versatile individuals who excel in at least one area can lead to more innovation in companies
  3. Creating a sense of belonging for remote workers is important for their well-being and productivity

Rabbit Holes 🕳️ #53

Creative Destruction • 5 implied HN points • 18 Oct 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Communication
  1. Spirituality can be a missing element in sustainability efforts, focusing on inner development rather than just external actions.
  2. Technology and convenience may create a feeling of disconnection and lack of control in our lives, rather than making things easier.
  3. Open-source urban design encourages flexible, adaptable, and nature-inspired city planning that involves the community in ongoing development.

People Play Coordination Games - Coordination II

Living Fossils • 3 implied HN points • 06 Mar 24
🔬 Science Communication
  1. Humans use language to efficiently convey ideas and thoughts, making it the ultimate coordination game of transferring information.
  2. The shared sound/idea mappings among groups of people in language are a result of solving coordination problems to move information effectively.
  3. Differences in language sound/idea mappings across groups exist due to multiple equilibria in coordination, showcasing the complexity of language evolution and usage.

Multimodal body language analysis and video captioning

Multimodal by Bakz T. Future • 1 implied HN point • 10 Feb 25
🕹 Technology Communication
  1. Body language and facial expressions reveal a lot about our feelings and intentions in conversations. Understanding these cues can help people improve their social skills and manage anxiety.
  2. In the future, AI might analyze videos to help us understand social dynamics better. This technology could provide insights on how others perceive us in meetings or discussions.
  3. While analyzing body language can be beneficial, it might raise concerns about privacy and how we interpret our interactions. It's important to think about the impact of such technology on our social lives.

Checked Out

Some Unpleasant Arithmetic • 5 implied HN points • 25 Apr 23
🕹 Technology Communication
  1. Twitter drama over blue check verification sparked controversies among celebrities and users.
  2. Celebrities face trade-offs between engaging with a large audience and avoiding risks to their reputation on social media platforms.
  3. Challenges arise when the system allows anyone to be verified, potentially mixing important figures with undesirable individuals.

Use Simple Language

Rational Dino’s Substack • 2 HN points • 26 Mar 24
🚌 Education Communication
  1. Using simple language helps people understand you better. When we use complicated words and sentences, many might not get what we're saying.
  2. Many successful publications and companies use simple language. This makes it easier for everyone to read and enjoy their content, which leads to more people engaging with it.
  3. Improving communication skills takes practice. Using readability tools can help you simplify what you write, making it clearer and more accessible for others.

Listen or Speak

Fish Food for Thought • 2 HN points • 21 Feb 24
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Communication
  1. Listening is a valuable leadership skill often overlooked in modern times, supported by research and real-world examples.
  2. Emotional intelligence (EI) is a critical element in effective leadership, aiding in maintaining composure, empathy, and fostering a positive work climate.
  3. Brevity in leadership communication is key; concise messages are more impactful and influential, demonstrating a mastery of language and the art of persuasion.

VOL 57: From Gutenberg to Google: How the Printing Press Shaped the Digital Age

MAP's Tech Newsletter. • 4 implied HN points • 18 Feb 23
🕹 Technology Communication
  1. The printing press revolutionized access to knowledge by making books more affordable and paved the way for the development of the Internet.
  2. Both the printing press and the Internet facilitated rapid spread of information and decentralized gatekeeping, impacting society in unforeseen ways.
  3. The impact of innovations like the printing press and the Internet on society is closely related to the speed and scale of communication they enable, influencing human technology and knowledge sharing.