We use this every day and yet, many people are still guilty of breaching basic business email etiquette.
A poll conducted by the McKinsey Global Institute showed that office workers spend an average of two and a half hours a day writing and responding to emails.
But does practice really make perfect? Not where emails are concerned, it seems. Sending emails every day doesn't make you an expert.
Most of us would be able to recall having been included in an email’s “cc”, even when it comes to matters that didn’t concern us, or dealt with the frustration of email “radio silence”. Even the most experienced professionals can make a slip on the keyboard that could cause problems later down the track.
To prevent this from happening, here are some business email etiquette tips to keep in mind before clicking "send".
1. Be kind
Don’t use email to argue, criticize or deliver bad news. Pick up the phone or deliver the information face-to-face.
2. Make every email fight for its right to be sent
The less you send, the more likely your messages will be read. Don’t copy others unless they really need to read it.
3. Be considerate, not cryptic
Don’t expect others to decipher what you mean by reviewing an entire email thread. Just because you are on the go doesn’t mean you should expect other to piece together what’s being requested.
4. Use only one account for work
Keep work-related emails coming and going from your work account only. Having a single address makes it easy for people to find your messages. And it will prevent business messages from getting tangled with your personal email – and perhaps neglected as a result.
5. Consider your email account when job hunting
It may go without saying, but don’t use your current work email to send resume to prospective employers. Also, avoid using overly personal email handles when job hunting. Not everyone will appreciate your sense of humour and “too much information” can be a turnoff.
6. Respond in a timely manner
Try to respond to all messages within 24 hours, but don’t say you’ll reply with a more detailed response at a later date unless you really intend to follow through. If you’re in consecutive meetings or away from the office, put an out-of-office message on so people aren’t left wondering when you’ll get back to them.
7. Be crystal clear
To ensure effective work productivity, be clear and concise with your communications. In your subject line, explain what you want: Do you need someone to review or approve something, or is the message simply an FYI. In the message itself, get to the point and use bullets, which are easier to scan than large blocks of text.
8. Don’t get too fancy
Avoid bright colours, odd fonts or extra-long signature lines. Some people find these distracting or just plain annoying. Include your personal or business links to social and professional networking sites when appropriate.
9. Watch the size
An email with a mega attachment might never reach its recipient, and if it does, it could overload the inbox. Consider zipping the file or utilizing a service like Hightail that allows you to transmit large files over the Internet. (Be sure to check your company’s IT policy first).
10. Don’t cry wolf
Is it really urgent or are you simply feeling impatient? Resist the temptation to flag your messages with a big red exclamation point when they’re really not that time sensitive. The result of doing so constantly? People simply will stop paying attention.
11. Reply with care
When responding to an email with multiple recipients, think twice about whether you really need to reply to all, and double-check your response before doing so. Bad “Reply to All” threads run rampant throughout organisations.
12. Think before you send
Always review the distribution list when sending a sensitive message. Many message have erroneously been sent to the wrong person with disastrous consequences.
Business email etiquette is more important than you realise
No matter how busy you are, vet through your emails before sending them out. It shouldn’t take you more than a minute or two to work smarter, because following proper business email etiquette reflects professionalism.
Most important of all, be kind in all your correspondences and you’ll definitely be appreciated for the gesture.
