Wrote three emails asking a vendor to fix something. Nothing happened.

An email feels casual, easy to ignore, easy to deprioritize. A letter feels different. It comes with weight, a signature, a paper trail, and an unspoken message: this is our stand as a company and this is on record now.

Most professionals default to whatever's fastest to type. But speed isn't always the goal. First, you need to establish protocols with your team for external communications and determine what information should be sent through letters.

Emails, MoMs and letters are all considered a part of project records but next time something isn't moving, ask yourself if you're sending a message or if you actually need to make a record through the appropriate communication channel.