deepstash
Beta
Deepstash brings you key ideas from the most inspiring articles like this one:
Read more efficiently
Save what inspires you
Remember anything
8
Key Ideas
Save all ideas
Any email message we send has the potential to be read in the wrong context, or misinterpreted entirely by the recipient. Even if we have smiley faces in the email, it is no match for actual face-to-face, video, or telephonic conversations, which, apart from our words, also showcase our empathy and earnestness.
Compared to a face-face conversation, an email is just a bunch of words that once sent, are out of our control.
161 SAVES
Due to the limitations and the multifacetedness of language, emails often lead to miscommunication, guessed intentions, or total awareness of what the person is trying to convey.
The problem is further complicated if you are writing to someone whom you havenât met in person.
139 SAVES
These types of emails (with the entire email is a sentence in the subject line, with no email body, just the signature)are usually sent by a very direct person, that either feels very busy or that the problem can't be solved simply in an email, so it's too much for them to go into it all.
If you respond with more than 2 sentences, they are probably not going to read it, so you should just get on the phone or get over there in person.
151 SAVES
Writing âPlease Adviceâ at the end of the email is a way to shift the burden on the recipient, and then sit back until one is provided with the full instructions.
If this annoys you, you can inquire about it in person, or if you feel that this is just a normal âsignatureâ, you can ignore it and concentrate on the content of the email.
146 SAVES
The use of emojis is a way to communicate our intentions and not just a âfunâ thing that young people do. In fact, due to their universal nature, emojis transcend language barriers, and normally cannot be interpreted in the wrong sense.
While negotiating, itâs best to not use Emojis though, as it can come off as âtrying to pleaseâ the recipient.
149 SAVES
Asking for favors requires some give and take. Sending a cold email instructing about some work that the recipient has to do, can come off as annoying and intrusive.
It is better to prepare the conditions and circumstances prior to sending the request (Pre-suasion), like a warm greeting, for instance. Even in the email body, a warm tone and a link to some article of interest can set the tone towards the recipient to say âYesâ to your eventual delegation of work.
137 SAVES
Each of us has their own communication style and also tend to take things personally.
While there are some apps that help with the tone of an email, and also remind us that the other person is human by displaying their LinkedIn picture, we have to understand that software can only help us in a limited way. Most people have good intentions and it is very rare that some are actively trying to offend or criticize you in a written format.
142 SAVES
SIMILAR ARTICLES & IDEAS:
10
Key Ideas
Successful people write emails that help achieve the objective while not wasting a single moment of the recipient.
The communication tool only works when your words are worthwhile, accurat...
If you have seen the person do something like make a speech or win an award, a brief mention or congratulation gives a personified touch to your email, increasing the effectiveness of the task or inquiry.
If there is something new or worthwhile happening in your life, like an incoming trip, or an article you wrote, you could update to the recipient. If they happen to have an opportunity, the news you share helps them recall you better.
The common email greeting is often an empty, yet necessary, formality. And these generic, surface-level greetings have probably harmed our relationships in some instances.
Rather than to me...
It can be difficult to know how to approach writing to a colleague now, especially when you want to find a balance between being vulnerable and professional.
Acknowledging what a co-worker is going through can make them feel really cared about. However, don't feel obligated to include such a personal note in every email. Generally, it is better to save personal information for a phone call or video chat.
Research shows that people will read more into your email and find your email more negative if they don't know you well.
Before sending your next email, give it an emotional proofread. Put yourself in the receiver's shoes, and try to imagine what you would feel if you received this email. Don't overthink your greetings and signoffs, either. A kind, real, and straightforward check-in could be enough.
1
Key Idea
When you meet in real life, you can read a personâs emotions. Even with a phone call you can extract a lot of information from someone's tone of voice.
But with email, youâre flying bli...