Format, Choose the Right One Wisely

Image Credit: migration.qld.gov.au

Posted by: Albert Weng

Choosing the right format in all kinds of activities are utmost important, to ensure not only the effectiveness, but also how the counterparts perceive you. Three types of formats that are generally used in our workplace. Take a closer look and keep that in mind, we'll work with this approach then.

1. Free Format

1) Purpose: Communication
2) Description: Express one's idea, with each in their own way by nature.
3) Insight: Know what kind of free formats to use in a particular case are critical. The format itself is free, which means there could be a range of options to choose, instead of sole options. However, choose the right format to use is crucial for every effective communication. The key here is, this is the most difficult format to make it right though.
4) Example: talk, email, sketch, drawing

2. Fixed Format

1) Purpose: Management
2) Description: Get all the required data and info in a clear and precise presentation, so could be checked and managed effectively.
3) Example: form, table, spreadsheet

3. Structured Format

1) Purpose: Development
2) Description: Considering the longer term of use with a purpose of possible development, there should be a modulized, flexible and consistent guideline in design, template, therefore a scalable effectiveness is demanding.
3) Example: connected spreadsheet, database which designed with reserved space for scaling.

Things you might familiar with, but should avoid.
1. Free format for management (ex., email for project control)
2. Fixed format for development (ex., fixed template for growing demand for complex input and analysis)
3. Structured format for communication (ex., complex spreadsheet for making a proposal pitch)

Call to action Starting from now on, choose the right format to use. You should be able to aware what is the right type of formats to use, even before you know how the format itself shall be designed. We shall be talking about the right type of format in our future collaboration. Question? Feel free to get me to elaborate. Enjoy.