Research shows that quality communication and "people skills" account for an 85% success factor when an individual moves forward in their career. Successful professionals should work to obtain their voice of success: a confident, controlled, comfortable, and professional sound. Remember from my earlier post on How To Make People Like You in 90 Seconds or Less: K.F.C. - Know what you want. Find out what you are getting. Change what you are doing until you get what you want. Please refer to my previous blog post:
Emails
Emails have become an unavoidable means of communicating at the workplace. Thus making email etiquette extremely important and crucial to your success. The following email etiquette will certainly allow your business communications to rise above the majority who do not take the time to understand and master these issues. The level of professionalism and courtesy you relay in your business email communications will always affect the way people perceive you.
Here are 32 Rules For Email Communication brought to you by
- Be concise and to the point
- Answer all question and pre-empt further questions
- Use proper spelling, grammar, and punctuation
- Make it personal
- Use templates for frequently used responses
- Answer Swiftly
- Do not attach unnecessary files
- Use proper structure and layout
- Do not overuse the high priority option
- Do not write in CAPITALS
- Don't leave out the message thread
- Add disclaimers to your emails
- Read the email before you send it (I would add out loud)
- Do not overuse 'Reply to All'
- Mailings - Use the bcc: field or do a mail merge
- Take care with abbreviations and emoticons
- Be careful with formatting
- Take care with rich text and HTML messages
- Do not forward chain letters
- Do not request delivery and read receipts
- Do not ask to recall a message
- Do not copy a message or attachment without permission
- Do not use email to discuss confidential information
- Use a meaningful subject line
- Use active instead of passive tone when writing
- Avoid using URGENT and IMPORTANT
- Avoid long sentences
- Do not send or forward emails containing libelous, defamatory, offensive, racist, or obscene remarks
- Do not forward virus hoaxes and chain letters
- Keep your language gender neutral
- Do not reply to spam
- Use cc: field sparingly
