Don't Start a Message With Just 'Hi' — State Your Purpose Right Away

Sending "Hi" or "Hey, are you there?" and waiting for a response before stating your actual question wastes both people's time. The recipient sees a notification, opens the app, and then... waits. They cannot start thinking about your question until you actually ask it, and the round-trip delay can stretch a five-second exchange into a twenty-minute one.

Instead, front-load your message: "Hi! Quick question — do you have the report from last Tuesday?" The person can respond when they are ready with an actual answer, not just an acknowledgment. This is not rude — it is respectful of everyone's time and attention.