We think what we say is clear… because it is clear to us.
But other people may hear what we say differently. By asking too politely, people may not understand the urgency. By asking too directly, people may feel disrespected by being ordered around. Some people may not even open the email if the subject line does not indicate that action or a response is required on their end. Others may be completely derailed from their work focus by an interrupting knock on their office door for something that could have been an email.
One size does not fit all. Some people need the direct approach; others need the polite version. Some prefer face-to-face; others prefer a written format they can reference when they can address the information. The secret to effective communication is not understanding ourselves—it’s getting other people to understand us.
(image source: https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=920521233415420&set=a.536493538484860)