This is always a good rule. The staff is made up of individuals, and maintenance of harmonious relationships will make your assignment to the staff more enjoyable and productive. In most staff jobs you will have some cause to deal with members of other Services, OSD personnel, and even the general public. How they view the Army will be tempered by the attitude you project. Do not write when you can telephone, e-mail, or discuss a matter personally.
Nothing uses up a staff officer's time more quickly than writing memoranda.
Quite often, such memoranda are unnecessary. Learn what telephone or personal contact can accomplish and develop a list of contact personnel with telephone numbers and e-mail addresses to use in handling actions. Suspense dates are not inflexible. Given good reasons, suspense dates often can be extended. When an action is received, immediately evaluate the time allowed to complete it.