Greggonomics 18: Less, But Better

Just a short Greggonomics this week as we head into Easter.

I came across something on LinkedIn recently (apologies, I can’t remember who said it) about the length of emails. The point was simple: once an email runs beyond a couple of paragraphs, it’s either skimmed or not read properly at all. That feels about right to me.

Most of us don’t sit down to “read” emails anymore. We scan them, triage them, decide whether they need action or can wait. Increasingly, some of that triage is being done with AI as well – summarising threads, suggesting replies, filtering what actually matters. Either way, the reality is the same: length gets in the way. The longer the message, the more likely it is that the key point is buried somewhere in the middle, or missed entirely.

I’ve been trying to keep mine shorter for a while, but I’m going to be more deliberate about it now. Particularly off the back of my December 2025 decision to remove email from my phone and stop engaging out of hours, it makes sense to tighten things further.

Shorter emails, clearer intent and less unnecessary waffle.

If something needs a bit more detail, it’s usually easier to set it out in a document or attachment rather than trying to squeeze it into the email itself. Emails tend to work best as signposts rather than the full story.

The Last Word

“It is with words as with sunbeams. The more they are condensed, the deeper they burn.” – Robert Southey

It’s a good reminder that impact rarely comes from volume.

In mediation, in business, and in communication generally, clarity tends to matter more than quantity. The more precise the message, the more likely it is to be understood – and acted on.

Most of the time, we don’t need to say more. We just need to say it better.

However you approach Easter – whether for the religious side, the family time, the chocolate and hot cross buns, or a bit of everything – I hope you get a proper break.

See you next time, Gregg