My VP said my internal newsletter was too polite and it stung

Last month our VP of ops pulled me aside after the Monday standup and said my weekly internal update read like an apology letter. She pointed out the third paragraph where I wrote 'we kindly remind staff' about the new expense policy. That phrasing did sound weak once she said it. She told me to stop hedging and just state the requirement with the deadline and the consequence. I rewrote it flat and direct, and we got almost zero pushback emails this week compared to the usual flood. Has anyone else had a leader challenge their tone, or is my default just too soft for corporate?

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blair_lewis852mo ago

That stings for sure, but it sounds like she did you a solid. Getting told your writing is too soft feels personal, even when it's about the work. The phrase "we kindly remind" is a classic crutch, it's like we're scared to sound like we have any authority. Good on you for testing her advice and seeing real results. Sometimes leaders see the pattern we're blind to in our own words. It's not that your default is too soft, it's that corporate wants directness over manners most of the time. Once you flip that switch, it gets easier to write the blunt version first and add warmth only if the situation calls for it.

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