Ineffective e-mails increase the chances of miscommunication in the office. Here are some tips to help you navigate through email blunders.
Do not try to communicate your emotions via e-mail:
If you just received an upsetting email, resist the urge to respond with a piece of your mind! Instead, close your email box and take a breather. Work on a different project for a while. When you are ready, draft your response in Word document. Edit out any passive aggression or emotions – they will only be received as immature. Make your email communication as concise and factual as possible.
Consider the tone of your email:
You may have meant well, but your reader is taking it all wrong…
Remember that an e-mail has no body gestures, facial features, or vocalizations to add context and meaning. As for emoticons — they are a poor substitute for effective communication in a business setting. Reading your e-mail messages out loud in various tones of voice before sending them will help reduce misunderstood e-mails
Don’t hide behind emails:
Common admit it … Have you ever used e-mails to avoid having a difficult conversation? Negative or emotionally charged conversations such as apologies or evaluations are often made more awkward through emails. When being personable counts, suck it up and pick up the phone.
