Eddie's Email Etiquette
Having good business communication can vary depending on your company, clients, and situation. While there is not one definitive answer, there are general rules of etiquette that, when used properly, we can all benefit from. To kick this post off, I'd like to start with a topic that is very near and dear to my heart... email etiquette.
We've all wondered at some point, "should I respond to this email?" The rules vary depending on who the email is from and what the purpose of the email is. However, something we can all agree on is, if it's urgent or must be done in a timely manner, it is best to respond quickly in order to relay our understanding of the assignment and deadline. This will also give us an opportunity to ask any questions we may have about the assignment. If it's less urgent, sometimes a simple, in person, "hey, I got your email and..." will suffice if you will soon cross paths with the person who emailed you.
On a similar note, sometimes it's hard to know whether we should hit 'reply all' on an email. My rule of thumb is, if it is information that everyone on the thread should have, would benefit from, or would enjoy reading, go for it. If the email is a simple and personal affirmation or afterthought, it may be best to respond privately or in person. Exercising discretion when using the powerful 'reply all' button will save us all a few notifications, time, and possibly even a bit of stress when we see an email and think it may be important. If you are the person abusing the almighty 'reply all' button, please take a moment to reconsider the next time you get the urge to hit 'reply all'. The email may not need to be sent to so many and being mindful of this may help you build your own credibility.*
Exercising positive, constructive communication will allow you to establish credibility, knowledge, and even a positive rapport within the company. Everybody likes a good emailer.
*Any similarities between the information in this post and my professional life are purely coincidental. Please do not report me to HR.
We've all wondered at some point, "should I respond to this email?" The rules vary depending on who the email is from and what the purpose of the email is. However, something we can all agree on is, if it's urgent or must be done in a timely manner, it is best to respond quickly in order to relay our understanding of the assignment and deadline. This will also give us an opportunity to ask any questions we may have about the assignment. If it's less urgent, sometimes a simple, in person, "hey, I got your email and..." will suffice if you will soon cross paths with the person who emailed you.
On a similar note, sometimes it's hard to know whether we should hit 'reply all' on an email. My rule of thumb is, if it is information that everyone on the thread should have, would benefit from, or would enjoy reading, go for it. If the email is a simple and personal affirmation or afterthought, it may be best to respond privately or in person. Exercising discretion when using the powerful 'reply all' button will save us all a few notifications, time, and possibly even a bit of stress when we see an email and think it may be important. If you are the person abusing the almighty 'reply all' button, please take a moment to reconsider the next time you get the urge to hit 'reply all'. The email may not need to be sent to so many and being mindful of this may help you build your own credibility.*
Exercising positive, constructive communication will allow you to establish credibility, knowledge, and even a positive rapport within the company. Everybody likes a good emailer.
*Any similarities between the information in this post and my professional life are purely coincidental. Please do not report me to HR.
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