The Email Impersonator Technique

Imagine yourself recoiling as you read an email your assistant sent to a key investor. It's riddled with corporate jargon you'd never use — missing the warm, personal touch you're known for. You are embarrassed and concerned that the relationship will be impacted.

Here's a counterintuitive method that works: Instead of teaching your assistant to write like you, write emails as your assistant.

Implementation:

1. Schedule a 15-minute screen-sharing session. Select a relatively complex email — maybe a nuanced investor inquiry or a sensitive team communication—as your training example.
2. Draft responses in real-time as if you were your assistant, and narrate your thought process out loud: "I'm starting with 'Dear Ms. Johnson, This is Sam, Ms. Chen's executive assistant.' This sets the appropriate tone, because this is a more traditional recipient - you can tell from the formal way they wrote to me in their first email."
3. Explain key decisions: • "I'm acknowledging the proposal's value without making any firm commitments." • "Referencing quarterly planning explains the delay and highlights our focus."
4. Have your assistant immediately draft a similar email. Review together, offering real-time feedback.

This method achieves several goals simultaneously:

1. It maintains your assistant’s authentic voice and demonstrates exactly how you want communications handled.
2. It's more scalable and productive than mere templates; no need to schedule additional “training time” - you can get work through your inbox in real time.

Your goal isn't to clone yourself, but to create a symbiotic communication system that represents you effectively while allowing your assistant to maintain their identity.