What to Do and What Not to Do
One of the most significant revolutions of technology has been the use of emails and texts. It is such an important part of our workday that according to a recent study, workers nearly spend 28% of their working week on their screen times; either reading or answering emails or texts.
While we are absolutely enthralled with the increased efficiency and speed of communication, we must not forget to adhere to the social rules when engaging in the e-communication form of correspondence. Here are some etiquette principles to bear in mind.
Dos
When sending an email, do include a very clear subject line. Most workers have to work their way through hundreds of emails daily. If you don’t want your message to be missed in all that pile, it is best to make your subject line as clear as possible.
A professional salutation is a must. No matter how well you are acquainted with the recipient, it never makes a good impression using ‘hiya’, ‘Yo’, or ‘hi’.
Proofreading is a must. You cannot later blame someone for judging you based on your email. When we’re in a hurry, we often misspell words or incorrectly phrase sentences unknowingly. This delivers an uneducated, careless and sloppy impression on our part. So it is always wise to thoroughly proofread your text before you hit send.
Don’ts
In order for your recipient to recognize you and contact you, it is important to add your signature. You have the option of setting it automatically so that it can appear at the end of each email. In your signature, remember to include all your details including your email, contact number and address too if possible.
It is never a good idea to include humor in an email. For what you may perceive as harmlessly funny, may translate into sarcasm or something unpleasant in the absence of your facial expressions and vocal tone.
Don’t let your messages be one-liners, even when they are in response to a chain of messages. Include a subject reference and also references of previous correspondence.
Effective communication requires familiar interactions and personalization. When you communicate with people on the internet, make sure you keep the two factors in mind.