Your email tone and the way you communicate can have a huge impact on the way your colleagues and clients perceive you and interact with you.
A polite, confident and assertive email style isn’t hard to achieve but it does take practice. Use these tips to start off, and remember to avoid things like:
Excessive apologising (unless you really offended someone, in which case ownership and an apology might be warranted).
Filler words (‘just’, ‘maybe’, ‘perhaps’).
Self sabotage (‘I could be wrong but…’, ‘I’m not the expert’).
Excessive use of ‘I’ (team projects mean you can often the collective ‘we’ which indicates a united front – power in numbers).
Delaying bad news (our mantra is 'good news fast, bad news faster').
Of course, certain situations may require you deviate from these recommendations, so use your instincts or ask a trusted mentor if you’re not sure how to respond. Ready to harness the power of the pen?
1. Thanks, not sorry.
2. Don't tell me, I'll tell you.
3. I do actually know how to do my job.
4. Check-in time.
5. Get it? Got it? Good.
6. I'm not perfect but who is?
7. You can have my attention for this long.
8. I'm awesome – I know!
