My Guiding Principles for Work and Productivity

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I believe that what truly differentiates people, on some level, comes down to the principles they choose to live and work by.

Respect others' attention. It's their most valuable resource.
Don't send multiple, fragmented messages when one well-formatted message will do. Master the art of the long-form, rich-text message.
Send images and their context in the same message. Don't just drop an image and make people guess what you mean.
If a problem can be solved in a 1-on-1 chat, keep it out of the group channel. My rule of thumb: If you can use an @mention to target the right person, you can probably use a direct message.
Do not send voice messages. "It's inconvenient to type" is not an excuse. If something is important, it's worth stopping to type. If it's not worth stopping to type, it's not important, and it can wait. For true emergencies, call.

The purpose of a meeting is to solve a problem that can only be solved by a meeting. If there's another way, use it.
Important meetings don't happen at night (ending after 7 PM). If it's scheduled for the evening, it's not important. The same applies to weekends and holidays.
There are only two states for arriving at a meeting: "early" and "late." "On time" does not exist. I choose to be early.
I will decline any meeting invitation where the primary activity is "reading a document together." I am literate and can read on my own time.
A meeting that lasts longer than one hour is a failed meeting. There are exceptions, but they are rare.
Be brave enough to be the one who says, "Let's get back on topic."

In a professional setting, low-context communication is always superior to high-context communication. Be explicit. Don't make people guess.
Clear writing and speaking come from clear thinking, not your college major. Think things through before you try to express them.
Always use correct, professional grammar and spelling, even in internal communications. Professionalism is a habit.
Before you communicate, ask yourself: "What does my audience already know? What do they not know? What is the one thing I need them to know?"
Use complete sentences, not fragments. Proofread what you've written before you send it.

Keep work conversations on work tools. Do not add me to any social media groups for work purposes.
Use a real photo of yourself as your profile picture.

In the summer, do not turn off the office air conditioning. People who are cold can add layers; people who are hot cannot remove their skin.
When you get in an elevator, don't repeatedly mash the "close door" button unless you're being chased. And keep your voice down; no one is as interested in your personal drama as you are.

Work, life, and learning should not be a zero-sum game.
Rest is not a sign of weakness. It is a prerequisite for high performance. An exhausted person cannot produce excellent work.
Vacation means "not working." It is a right. Before you message a colleague on a weekend or holiday, ask yourself: "Is this truly so urgent it can't wait?" (99% of the time, it's not). I don't expect replies from people on vacation, and they shouldn't expect them from me.

Anyone can come up with the idea of "making three people do the work of five." Real management is about enabling three people to do the work that three people are meant to do.
Collaboration and management are social activities between human beings. The prerequisite for all work is to treat people like people. Treating them like animals is animal husbandry.
Respect is a two-way street. Apparent "obedience" based on fear is not loyalty. People who are afraid cannot have a sense of ownership.
The essence of "involution" (内卷) is putting in hours and effort, but not brains. It is laziness disguised as diligence. To brag about it is shameless.
After making a mistake, a sincere apology is the smartest and cheapest strategy. Anything that comes after the word "but" is not part of the apology.
Unconditional, unquestioning obedience to a leader's every command is a subtle and highly effective form of passive resistance.
Listening to reports without making decisions is a sign of a lack of leadership.