Tone of Voice in Written Communication

If you find yourself typing "You need to," "Needless to say," "This goes without saying," "As I have said before," or "I shouldn't have to say this again," STOP. You are being wordy at best and condescending at the worst. When giving directives, it is easy to sound like a critical parent. Avoid doing so with adults: they do not appreciate hearing or reading such a perspective. Remove the negative words, the embedded sarcasm, and the patronizing tone. Remain neutral and positive, without blame or shame.  State what is, what is not, and what will be. Keep focused on the present and future; dwelling in the past usurps energy needed for applying lessons learned.