Career Development Tip #6: E-mail, Our Best Friend And Worst Nightmare
After getting busted for passing a note to a friend and suffering the humiliation of having it read aloud in class (henceforth known as the Adam Metcalf saga) I decided to take my grandfather's advice. His advice was "never put anything in writing that you wouldn't want printed in the New York Times". E-mail is great for sending detailed information, scheduling, relating facts and more.
Improper E-mail usage can destroy credibility, professional relationships and serious liability issues for your company. Here are a few thoughts to consider:
- Sending out good news, praise for a job well done, or other positive information via e-mail is great, be sure to follow it up with a verbal affirmation when you next see the person.
- It is not very effective to try to replace a meeting with e-mail. It leads to these long e-mail strings that multiple people have to read and re-read to track. If a topic bears discussion, it probably is better to have a discussion.
- Difficult conversations should be just that, conversations. Sending difficult to deliver conversations via E-mail is passive aggressive, at best. Don't send e-mails that relate you are upset, dissatisfied or angry. Instead, schedule a time to talk either in person or via phone. While difficult, it both gives and garners respect.
- Following up a meeting with "meeting notes" via e-mail is incredibly effective to ensure you are on the same page.
- Be mindful, whatever you put in e-mail can be forwarded, posted and used in a way you did not intend. Confidential information simply should not be transmitted via e-mail. See Grandpa Clem rule stated above.
- Only reply-all if the entire recipient list needs your reply.
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