Are Your Emails Perceived as Terse?
Many emailers do not realize how easy it is to come off as blunt, terse, or demanding. So what happens is you type a couple of words, your thoughts at the moment, and hit send—not thinking how the person on the other side may interpret those comments?
Even though others do not expect you always to be ” formal ” with personal emails, presenting yourself clearly and courteously is essential. Taking just a few extra steps can help add certainty and avoid misunderstandings.
You Control Perception
A simple greeting at the beginning of every email will help set the initial tone. After that, your email takes on a completely different tone by including a Hello, (name) or Hi, (name).
If you think about it, you don’t just pick up the phone and start talking without doing the same. So, what would you think of someone who did that?
Of course, phone and email are different communication venues, but why should email disregard common courtesy in light of being “informal”? The last thing you want is to be viewed as pushy or rude.
Other things like bolding text, changing text to red, and misusing punctuation can invoke an emotional reaction. One that will most likely be amplified more than you expect.
Being informal is often an excuse for being lazy. Is it not worth ensuring your message is received as intended?
Lack of Effort = Misunderstanding
When you begin an email with a question or demand without a greeting softening or framing your request, the tone will be perceived as bossy, demanding, or easily misunderstood. If you have a comment stating a point of view or opinion, you appear terse without that oh-so-important greeting.
Every email you send should always begin with a proper greeting that fits the tone you want to convey and is appropriate in formality based on your relationship with the person you are emailing.
That’s not to say that a greeting is the be-all and end-all. However, when applied to all your communications, email etiquette best practices only positively enhance them.
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The Effort is Worth It
Are you not making these extra efforts? The negative impact of your requests or comments could cause those you communicate with to cringe when they see your name in their inbox. And wouldn’t that be a shame when you can avoid such a reaction by taking a few extra thoughtful steps?
