Chris Fenning's The First Minute has a couple of proposals that can be used to improve project communications:

1. Context-Intent-Key Message
2. Goal-Problem-Solution

In both the above, the idea is that your conversation is framed effectively to ensure faster, more effective communication. (1) is more likely to be used in verbal conversation and (2) in emails - for example:

(1)

Context: Hi. I'm the finance lead for the ERP transformation project.

Intent: I'd like to improve our account setup process in accounts receivable.

Key message: Do you think we can improve the workflow for creating a new customer account?

(2)

Goal: Our goal is to improve the account setup process in accounts receivable in order to ensure all new customers are setup in a consistent manner.

Problem: There is no consistent workflow for setting up a new customer in our ERP system.

Solution: Could we use a specific 'customer setup' role with the functional permissions to ensure that new customers can only be setup using this role? 

Project Management 9