The Same Day Summary Cheat Sheet

Dear Mort,

Using the same approach to creating the other “cheat sheets,” here are my tips:

Tip One: Sooner the better
Tip Two: Less is more
Tip Three: It’s about them, not you
Tip Four: No surprises
Tip Five: Save your SDSs

Tip One: Although it’s called the Same Day Summary, you should really think of it as the Same Hour Summary. Otherwise, our sieve-like brains can cause problems. My recommendation is that you do the SDS immediately after the conversation. If for some reason, you can’t, quickly jot down notes as prompts of what you will cover when you prepare the message later.

Tip Two:  At first, leaders’ SDSs tend to be too long-winded. “Summary” doesn’t mean “comprehensive.” The SDS is strategic. Write only what you think is important to preserve, capture or convey in writing. Nothing else. You might have a three-hour meeting yet only have a half-page, three bullet point SDS. Remember that recipients can always add something if they think it needs to be included. This is why you always write, “Let me know if I missed or misstated anything.”

Tip Three: As much as possible, avoid the word “I” in the SDS. The focus should be on us or them, especially when it comes to confirming understandings and commitments going forward. It’s not “You will.” It’s “You agreed you will.”

Tip Four: No surprises means that there should be nothing substantive in the SDS that wasn’t actually discussed. If the meeting has ended, and you realize you forgot something of importance, don’t put it in the SDS. Talk to the person first, and then put it in the SDS. Also, if you haven’t already established an SDS practice, let them know an SDS is coming and that they can respond if they think anything of consequence was missed or misstated.

Tip Five: SDSs won’t work for full effect unless you can find them readily. I store my SDSs in folders and subfolders on my computer. Ready SDS access is very important to maintaining alignment and accountability, especially when it comes to commitments people have made.

I hope this helps Mort.

Best regards,

Jathan

Jathan Janove is a Marshall Goldsmith Stakeholder Centered Coaching Master Coach and Practice Leader. You can learn more about him here. If you have a question you’d like him to address, please email us at AsktheCoach@mgscc.net.