Write A Letter

Make things happen, one letter at a time.

When was the last time you wrote a letter?

A real letter. The kind that goes on real paper, maybe even special stationary, or as part of a thoughtful card. The kind that requires you to attach a stamp and drop the letter in the post office box. The kind that requires intentional time-consuming action. The kind that makes you think.

Letter writing may be the most underutilized tool for successfully creating change.

Virtual is so easy. Like. Share. Comment. Sign an online petition. You are only one-click being an engaged citizen, no extra effort required! I do all those things too, they feel good, and sometimes they even make a difference.

None of them can get immediate, measurable, results like a well-written letter.

I don’t spend all day writing letters (though I suspect I’ll be a terror in my 90’s), but when it’s important, I’m strategic and focused, and I get results. Change happens.

Here’s a few of the successful techniques I’ve used:

Send the letter to multiple people, and always include the person in charge of the entire organization.

When a local car dealer was giving my dad a hard time, I wrote to the manager, noting the number of cars purchased at that dealership, the fact that all the service had been done by the dealership, the long-term customer satisfaction which led to continued transactions. And then I explained we were baffled by a recent experience. Also sent the letter to the CEO and VP of customer service for the car company. My dad had a new car in a week.

Leaders set the culture of an organization. Let them know if that culture is not translating through the ranks, or may lose them business.

Be specific

My neighbors were upset because a utility pole in my yard had to be replaced and the workers went through their yards. The utility guys noted the transformer was in bad shape, rusting, leaking, and it would probably blow the next big storm, but they didn’t have orders to replace the transformer. I sent a letter to the utility, noting that the current transformer was a PCB-leaking EPA hazard directly over the yards of multiple young children, and by the way, they were already replacing the pole, so it would save them money and time. We had a new transformer within 5 days.

Broad business strategy doesn’t always see local problems. Sometimes organizations just needed to be reminded of reasonable business strategy.

Use the U.S. Mail service

A pharmaceutical company attempted to gouge me with a $500 cream, for which there was a $20 generic, spouting the usual ‘insurance will pay for it’ line. I went after the drug company (after finding they were in the news for all sorts of shady dealings). No direct answer but a refund to the insurance company, and I got letters from my Senators months later acknowledging my letter. Did it make a difference? No, but it’s one more bit of ammunition in reforming the totally broken U.S. health care system, because I let the people making the laws know what was happening in the field and the fraud is being noted.

If you want your letter to be read, mail it, don’t email it. You don’t always get a response, but I’d say my response rate from real mail as opposed to email is at least 10:1.

99% of people complain. 1% take action and speak out. Do you want your ideas put in place or someone else’s?

When should you take the time to write a letter?

Writing a good letter is time consuming. You have to formulate your argument. Be clear about what you really want to accomplish. Brush up on your grammar and spelling. Know when to use a carrot and when to use stick - a combination often works best. Understand that sometimes nothing happens, you just feel one step closer to being that crazy person tilting at windmills. Remember that if you never speak up, nothing will ever change. Also remember, few people take the time to write a letter, so your voice is more likely to be heard.

Here’s some of the reasons I’ll pick up my pen or fire up my keyboard.

No one may figure it out if you don’t speak up.

• Disrupt the status quo. How often do you see something that doesn’t make sense, grumble, and hope someone will figure it out? The squeaky wheel gets the oil, and single letters can actually change entire systems if your argument is persuasive.

Speak up for others.

• Advocate for someone else. Writing a letter to protect the interests of others has a bigger impact. I’ve never tried to get something for free or tried to manipulate a system in only my favor, but I sure as heck will go into battle to protect others.

Recognize outstanding effort.

• Thank you is always in fashion. If you’ve gotten outstanding, above-and-beyond, compassion during a hard time, the extra yard of effort, attention - write a letter to that person’s boss and the head of the company mentioning that person and specifically describing what made the experience so positive. It’s not only the right thing to do, it’s also a way of protecting vulnerable workers. Harder to fire someone or deny decent pay if they’ve got letters of commendation in their file. And for the person who made a difference? A short hand-written note can make their day.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a letter to write….