>[!tip] >You may have been linked here! You may have sent me a message that just says "hello" while I'm focusing on other things. I'm sending you this link because it's a good reminder to share more info early on in chat. No shade intended, I'm just hoping to save all of our times. # The Problem with Just Saying "Hello" in Chat Have you ever started a chat conversation like this? ``` Bob: Hello [20 minutes pass...] Alice: Hi [40 minutes pass...] Bob: Do you have time to review my project proposal? ``` This common chat pattern creates unnecessary delays and disrupts workflow for everyone involved. Here's why it's problematic and how to communicate more effectively. ## Why Starting with Just "Hello" is Problematic When someone starts a conversation with just "Hello" and waits for a response, they're creating a multi-step process that: 1. Forces the recipient to acknowledge the greeting before knowing the actual purpose 2. Creates a waiting period while the sender types their real message 3. Interrupts the recipient's workflow twice instead of once 4. Makes both parties wait longer for the actual conversation to begin ## A Better Approach Instead of the "Hello" waiting game, consider this more effective approach: ``` Bob: Hi Alice! Do you have time to review my project proposal today? It's about 10 pages and I'm mainly looking for feedback on the methodology section. Alice: Sure Bob, I can take a look after my 2pm meeting. I'll send you my notes by EOD. ``` ## Benefits of Leading with Context Getting straight to the point with context provides several advantages: * **Efficient Time Management**: Recipients can respond when they have the bandwidth to actually help, rather than getting caught in a greeting loop * **Better Async Communication**: The full context allows for thoughtful responses that match the request * **Reduced Interruptions**: One meaningful notification instead of multiple partial messages * **Faster Resolution**: Questions get answered more quickly when all the information is available upfront ## Examples of Effective Chat Starters Instead of just "Hello", try these: ✅ "Hey team! The staging server is down - anyone available to help troubleshoot?" ✅ "Hi Sarah, could you review PR #123 when you have a moment? Main changes are in the auth module." ✅ "Morning! Quick question about the client meeting - are we still on for 3pm?" ## Common Scenarios and Better Alternatives ❌ **Instead of this:** ``` Alex: Hi [waiting...] Alex: Are you there? [waiting...] Alex: I have a question about the database ``` ✅ **Try this:** ``` Alex: Hi! I noticed our database queries are running slowly in production. Could we discuss some optimization strategies when you're free? ``` ## In Conclusion Remember: No one is suggesting that being polite is bad! The goal is to be both polite *and* efficient. Including a greeting with your message is great – just pair it with context so everyone can communicate more effectively. --- *Inspired by [nohello.net](https://nohello.net/)* #PersonalInfrastructure