Imagine calling someone on the phone, going "hello!" then putting them on hold...
❌ Don't do this
Note that the sender could have got their answer minutes sooner, and needn't have kept the receiver waiting. In fact, the receiver could have started thinking about the question right away!
✅ Instead, try this
Why "No Hello" matters
People who say just "hello" in chat are generally trying to be polite by not jumping right into the request, like one would in person or on the phone - and that's great! But chat is neither of those things.
For most people, typing is much slower than talking. So despite best intentions, you're actually just making the other person wait for you to phrase your question, which is lost productivity (and kinda annoying).
The same goes for:
- "Hello, are you around?"
- "hi - quick question."
- "You got a sec?"
- "ping"
Just ask the question!
If you feel it's a bit brusque to simply ask the question, you can still preface your message with pleasantries:
"Hey there, hope you're doing well! Do you know when that project deadline is?"
Benefits of No Hello
Asking your question before getting that initial salutatory reply also allows for asynchronous communication. If the other party is away, and you leave before they come back, they can still answer your question, instead of just staring at a "Hello" and wondering what they missed.
When done right - everyone's happy! 🎉