🤷 Yes... No... Fine... Soon...

You're probably here because your answer, however well intentioned, left the person with more questions than clarity :)

Bad answers waste time and create confusion. Whether in Chat, email, or meetings, good answers follow four simple principles. These come from philosopher Paul Grice, who showed that good communication is not about sounding smart. It’s about being truthful, relevant, clear, and just enough. The four principles are:

1 - The Maxim of Quantity

Make your answer as informative as is required, no more no less.

"How did the client meeting go?"

Instead of saying:

  • 🚫
    "Fine." Too little info. The asker has to pry for details.
  • 🚫
    [Forwards a 1 hour call transcript] Too much info. You just dumped the work on them.

Say:

  • ✅
    "It went well. They liked our proposal and want to discuss the timeline. Follow-up is on Tuesday." Summarizes the outcome and the actionable next steps.

2 - The Maxim of Quality

Do not guess, bluff, or overstate. Do not claim what you do not have evidence for.

"When will the Q3 report be ready?"

Instead of saying:

  • 🚫
    "Probably soon." Vague guessing creates anxiety and mistrust.

Say:

  • ✅
    "I'm waiting on the sales numbers from EMEA. I expect to finish it by Thursday afternoon." States the blocker and provides a realistic estimate based on evidence.

3 - The Maxim of Relation

Be relevant. Stick to the immediate topic.

"Should we approve the budget for the new software?"

Instead of saying:

  • 🚫
    "I think so. The old software is so slow and I hate the interface..." Complaining about the past doesn't help make the decision.

Say:

  • ✅
    "Yes, the ROI analysis shows it pays for itself in 6 months." Directly addresses the decision criteria.

4 - The Maxim of Manner

Be clear and brief. Remove ambiguity, jargon, and unnecessary complexity.

"How do I submit my expenses?"

Instead of saying:

  • 🚫
    "Just go to the expense tool and make sure you have the receipt in the correct format" Disordered stream of consciousness is hard to follow.

Say:

  • ✅
    "1. Log in to [tool link].
    2. Click 'Submit expenses' in the left menu bar.
    3. Upload the receipts (JPEG, PDF)"     Step-by-step instructions are easy to execute.

The Cooperative Principle

In 1975, philosopher Paul Grice argued that at the heart of good answers is what he called the Cooperative Principle: the idea that conversations work best when we try to help each other, not impress each other. When you answer with the right amount, the right facts, and clarity, communication stops being a chore and starts moving things forward.