I just had a couple of suggestions on this...

Whether you are old enough to remember Doug Henning (and his perpetually perky wife, Debbie), or your point of reference is more along the lines of David Copperfield or Siegfried & Roy, the mysteries of magic tend to divide people into two camps.

Camp number one contains those who can watch the practitioners of such fantastic feats and simply sit and stare in awe. These are the folks who produce more than their fair share of “ohhs” and “ahhs” as things disappear, are seemingly sliced (only to remain intact), or are produced from chapeaus and other unlikely vessels.

Those in camp number two enjoy the spectacle as well, but also become fixated on figuring it all out. Even if they would never tug on a mall Santa’s beard or reveal the identity of the Tooth Fairy to a child with a low wind-resistance smile, they can’t help themselves when faced with something like magic that’s part art, part science, and part staging.

So, while those in camp number one say, “Wow...how did he/she do that?” those in camp number two spend much of the performance stroking their chins and trying to figure out exactly how the horse moved from stage left to the box suspended over stage right (or whatever). Whether or not they ever had any desire to step in front of the spotlight, they’re pretty much convinced that magic is something that anyone – including them, of course – could do.

Communicators face the same kind of wannabes all the time, particularly when it comes to writing. After all, everyone can write...so how hard can it be to write a news release, an ad, or a story for an internal newsletter, right?

And so, they pull out their red pens (or hit “track changes” on their computers) and have a field day making “suggestions” on something the communicator sweat bullets creating. The end result is often something that should be returned wrapped in yellow crime scene tape.

So, how do you navigate this sticky situation and come out with both a sound document and your sanity?

• Educate your reviewers. Whether you want the insight of your reviewer or you are obligated to request it, don’t send your document without background. Make certain your reviewers know the objective, the audience, any specific ground rules (length, style, etc.) and anything else that would help them know what they are reading – before they actually do.
• Specify what you want. Do you want your reviewers to verify facts? Massage their quotes? See if the piece flows? If you don’t tell them what role you need them to play, you give them a free pass to comment on everything. Providing such guidance won’t rein in everyone all the time, but it’s a step in the right direction that also shows respect for their time.
• Offer feedback on the feedback. Here’s the tricky one. You may not have to tell your reviewers which of their changes you accepted, but strategically doing so whenever appropriate demonstrates appreciation and offers a chance to refine your reviewer’s technique for the next time around.

The message? Don’t get defensive or depressed about well-intentioned (but off-kilter) reviewers. Instead, take charge by giving them the information and guidance they need to be helpful to both you and your work.