An email arrives marked URGENT.
Three people stop what they are doing. One replies with a question. Another starts a task that turns out to be unnecessary. By afternoon, everyone is busy, but the original need is still unclear.
Urgency can get attention. It cannot supply missing instructions.
When a request is time-sensitive, tell people what outcome you need, when you need it, and who will make the decision.
“Please send me the final attendance count by 2:00 so I can submit the report” gives someone a path forward.
“Need this ASAP” gives them another question to ask.
Before sending your next urgent message, can the recipient tell exactly what to do?
