E109 - Using E-mail Appropriately at Work

First 100 Words
Did you use email this week while you were at work? If so, how much thought did you give to what you wrote before clicking that send button? Probably not enough. It’s easy to come off badly in an email and not be aware of it. Lack of face-to-face interaction means we’re often far too careless in what we say, while misunderstandings become more likely due to the absence of nonverbal cues that we use every day to interpret meaning.

Email also gives a false sense of privacy that can lure users into doing things they’d never consider if they knew what they were sending would be made public. With all these pitfalls, it pays to have a plan. Here are some guidelines to help ensure that your email usage enhances rather than detracts from your professional image . . .

When To Use
Giving thought to e-mail use, impact of inappropriate communications, impact on employers, communicating with clarity, and etiquette; avoiding career-killing bad behaviors

How to Use
Policy discussions, general education, internal circulation, HR presentations.