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What is the most annoying thing about electronic communication to you? Don’t you wish that in order to use emails, everyone had to agree to certain rules of etiquette? No doubt you get lots of junk emails and long emails and annoying emails regularly. The question is, are you careful to avoid those email mistakes yourself?
For example, don’t be the person who sends out a constant stream of informational emails to people who have not requested them or don’t need them. For example, forwarding articles or other emails that have a political bent to them is truly not smart professionally. And getting a constant stream of jokes or funny stories can become annoying. Even inspirational emails can be overdone.
I confess these streams of emails are the ones I generally don’t read. I look at the subject, see who it’s from, and determine if it’s worth my time to read a long email. However, people I know and trust occasionally send me very worthwhile things to read, and because it is infrequent, I know they have thoughtfully sent something I will want to read, so I do. It’s good to remember anything can be overdone. Again, less is more.
If you have a particularly complex communication or if there is significant emotional content to a message you need to send, determine if sending it by email is the best way to go. For example, if you need to apologize, it may be best to do that by phone or in person. Or when you’re delivering a message you know they don’t want to hear, such as denying a request of some sort, that is usually done best in a personal communication. Don’t use email communication to avoid uncomfortable messages or to cover up a mistake. In the long run, it will create more problems for you.