Effective Emails

We live in a sound byte world and people do not read today. It’s not that we don’t read, it’s that we don’t read as much.

When we see a large block of text in an email we either ignore it or skim through it (not really retaining anything).

So how do we get our colleagues to read our emails, retain information and take action if prompted? Well, I suggest the following:

1. Use the subject line in your email to get to the point
2. Keep the body of email short and focused on what was laid out in the subject line
3. Limit the email to one big idea or takeaway
4. Use statements, not open-ended questions. (e.g. “If you agree, please respond ‘Yes’; if not, give me a call” as opposed to “So what do you think?”)
5. If you are delivering criticism, be specific and respectful
6. Reaching out from the heart now and then. A short, sincere and thoughtful message can make someone’s day.

By respecting the time of those you are writing to, you will increase the potential of the results you are trying to achieve.