Comments on: The HUGE Mistake People Make with Email, and 7 Tips to Avoid It http://www.keithferrazzi.com/communication/the-huge-mistake-people-make-with-email-and-7-tips-to-avoid-it/ Business is Human. Relationships Power Growth. Sat, 13 Mar 2010 06:12:18 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: SUNDER LALVANI http://www.keithferrazzi.com/communication/the-huge-mistake-people-make-with-email-and-7-tips-to-avoid-it/comment-page-1/#comment-5760 SUNDER LALVANI Mon, 15 Feb 2010 02:51:38 +0000 http://www.keithferrazzi.com/?p=3173#comment-5760 Dear Keith Thank you for the very useful tips. If I may reiterate on certain points as under: * The Subject must be in Block capitals. Must convey the central idea & the required response of the message. Shows you up for clarity & an organised mind; thereby, drawing the recipients requisite attention & a deliberate response. * Frame the message after conversing with the recipient in your mind/aloud, to get the desired effect. * Must spell-check & re-read deliberately before dispatch. * Must convey encouragement subtly or directly, depending on the circumstances e.g. "Keith, I know, I can depend on you for some brilliant ideas on conducting the Seminar". * Humor thrown in, lightens the mood; & enhances relationship. Regards, Sunder Dear Keith
Thank you for the very useful tips.
If I may reiterate on certain points as under:
* The Subject must be in Block capitals. Must convey the central idea & the required response of the message. Shows you up for clarity & an organised mind; thereby, drawing the recipients requisite attention & a deliberate response.
* Frame the message after conversing with the recipient in your mind/aloud, to get the desired effect.
* Must spell-check & re-read deliberately before dispatch.
* Must convey encouragement subtly or directly, depending on the circumstances e.g. "Keith, I know, I can depend on you for some brilliant ideas on conducting the Seminar".
* Humor thrown in, lightens the mood; & enhances relationship.
Regards,
Sunder

]]> By: Bob Harrell http://www.keithferrazzi.com/communication/the-huge-mistake-people-make-with-email-and-7-tips-to-avoid-it/comment-page-1/#comment-4734 Bob Harrell Sun, 22 Nov 2009 14:44:46 +0000 http://www.keithferrazzi.com/?p=3173#comment-4734 Oh yeah, and one more...#5: "bcc" = Trust Buster. 'Nuff said. :) Oh yeah, and one more...#5: "bcc" = Trust Buster. 'Nuff said. :)

]]> By: Gloria Buono Daly http://www.keithferrazzi.com/communication/the-huge-mistake-people-make-with-email-and-7-tips-to-avoid-it/comment-page-1/#comment-4732 Gloria Buono Daly Sat, 21 Nov 2009 23:37:10 +0000 http://www.keithferrazzi.com/?p=3173#comment-4732 Dear Keith, Really enjoyed your article, "The HUGE Mistake People Make with Email, and 7 Tips to Avoid It." Appreciated your sharing your perspective and insights. I'm going to follow you on Twitter. Sincerely, Gloria Dear Keith,
Really enjoyed your article, "The HUGE Mistake People Make with Email, and 7 Tips to Avoid It." Appreciated your sharing your perspective and insights. I'm going to follow you on Twitter.
Sincerely,
Gloria

]]> By: Elaine http://www.keithferrazzi.com/communication/the-huge-mistake-people-make-with-email-and-7-tips-to-avoid-it/comment-page-1/#comment-4730 Elaine Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:14:27 +0000 http://www.keithferrazzi.com/?p=3173#comment-4730 Hi, if people can only remember the top 3-5, would it be #1-#5 on this list? Thanks. Hi, if people can only remember the top 3-5, would it be #1-#5 on this list? Thanks.

]]> By: Top 10 Social Media Links For Leaders: Nov. 16-20 | Samuel Bacharach Blog http://www.keithferrazzi.com/communication/the-huge-mistake-people-make-with-email-and-7-tips-to-avoid-it/comment-page-1/#comment-4724 Top 10 Social Media Links For Leaders: Nov. 16-20 | Samuel Bacharach Blog Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:52:17 +0000 http://www.keithferrazzi.com/?p=3173#comment-4724 [...] 7 mistakes people often make with email…and how to correct them. Very [...] [...] 7 mistakes people often make with email…and how to correct them. Very [...]

]]> By: Jeph Maystruck http://www.keithferrazzi.com/communication/the-huge-mistake-people-make-with-email-and-7-tips-to-avoid-it/comment-page-1/#comment-4723 Jeph Maystruck Fri, 20 Nov 2009 03:18:14 +0000 http://www.keithferrazzi.com/?p=3173#comment-4723 Wow! Great post and comments! I just changed my signature on my Blackberry (Thank you Bob) I'll be reading this blog again. I just wish more people I have to deal with would read this post! Cheers, Jeph Wow! Great post and comments! I just changed my signature on my Blackberry (Thank you Bob) I'll be reading this blog again. I just wish more people I have to deal with would read this post!

Cheers,

Jeph

]]> By: Sean Stefan http://www.keithferrazzi.com/communication/the-huge-mistake-people-make-with-email-and-7-tips-to-avoid-it/comment-page-1/#comment-4722 Sean Stefan Fri, 20 Nov 2009 03:01:30 +0000 http://www.keithferrazzi.com/?p=3173#comment-4722 Great post Keith. I really liked the underlying theme in a lot of the points - try to find a way to make the person on the other end have a better day. P.S. I liked the idea of adding the post script to at least one email a day. It's very underused, but people always read the P.S. right? Great post Keith. I really liked the underlying theme in a lot of the points - try to find a way to make the person on the other end have a better day.

P.S. I liked the idea of adding the post script to at least one email a day. It's very underused, but people always read the P.S. right?

]]> By: Using Email to Strengthen Relationships http://www.keithferrazzi.com/communication/the-huge-mistake-people-make-with-email-and-7-tips-to-avoid-it/comment-page-1/#comment-4721 Using Email to Strengthen Relationships Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:07:07 +0000 http://www.keithferrazzi.com/?p=3173#comment-4721 [...] Ferrazzi, who makes his living by building relationships, has a great post today on using each email as an opportunity to forge a stronger relationship with the recipient. His list [...] [...] Ferrazzi, who makes his living by building relationships, has a great post today on using each email as an opportunity to forge a stronger relationship with the recipient. His list [...]

]]> By: dennis arends http://www.keithferrazzi.com/communication/the-huge-mistake-people-make-with-email-and-7-tips-to-avoid-it/comment-page-1/#comment-4719 dennis arends Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:39:51 +0000 http://www.keithferrazzi.com/?p=3173#comment-4719 fully agree with that. and change the email subject when responding. sometimes we get emails that still have the same subject although it has a trail of three or more messages fully agree with that. and change the email subject when responding. sometimes we get emails that still have the same subject although it has a trail of three or more messages

]]> By: Bob Harrell http://www.keithferrazzi.com/communication/the-huge-mistake-people-make-with-email-and-7-tips-to-avoid-it/comment-page-1/#comment-4718 Bob Harrell Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:05:05 +0000 http://www.keithferrazzi.com/?p=3173#comment-4718 Great post Keith, and I agree with your list of 7. Here are 4 more I'd offer from my years as a Corp Communications director: (1) Use email for positive or neutral/factual communications ONLY and NEVER email when you are feeling angry or addressing a conflict. It's worse than drunk-dialing an old flame at 2:00 AM, so just don't do it. Put the keyboard down...slowly...then either sleep on it or pick up the phone. (2) Only cc other people when needed, and be clear in the body of the message *why* you are cc'ing those particular people (eg, "cc'ing Denise for possible impact on XYZ project and John/Julie/Dan just as an fyi.") Pare down the distrib list as an email conversation narrows into a specific sub-topic so as to not waste people's time or to confuse to whom the discussion is directed. (3) Avoid the vortex of back and forth "reply all" messages, which can cause an endless loop of emails with no obvious path to closure. If you start with a simple email intended for one purpose (eg,to inform a group about a new policy) and it later morphs into something else (eg, people questioning how the new policy got approved or what it means), that's a signal that the issue is too complex to manage via email. You can escape your reply all hell by sending one final message to the group that shuts down the email chain. Just acknowledge that there is clearly an issue that requires further discussion and let people know that you will take the issue offline. Schedule a face-to-face or telecon mttg (or do one-on-one follow ups if more appropriate) to address feedback and resolve the issue. When done, close the loop by sending an email to the original distrib list informing them of the outcome. (4) Make the most of your email subject lines. Shoot for highly descriptive subject lines (eg, not just "Networking Question" but "Networking Question: Know any Six Sigma gurus in the Marketing/Commercial space?"). Even better, depending on your relationship to the recipient(s), you might include a tag at the beginning of the subject line such as "Action Required:", "Feedback/Review Needed:", "Response Requested by XX date:" or simply "FYI:" for general interest emails. And NEVER leave your subject line blank. It communicates either sloppiness, laziness, or lack of respect for the reader's time, and will substantially reduce the chances that your email will be read and acted upon. My four cents... :) Great post Keith, and I agree with your list of 7. Here are 4 more I'd offer from my years as a Corp Communications director:

(1) Use email for positive or neutral/factual communications ONLY and NEVER email when you are feeling angry or addressing a conflict. It's worse than drunk-dialing an old flame at 2:00 AM, so just don't do it. Put the keyboard down...slowly...then either sleep on it or pick up the phone.

(2) Only cc other people when needed, and be clear in the body of the message *why* you are cc'ing those particular people (eg, "cc'ing Denise for possible impact on XYZ project and John/Julie/Dan just as an fyi.") Pare down the distrib list as an email conversation narrows into a specific sub-topic so as to not waste people's time or to confuse to whom the discussion is directed.

(3) Avoid the vortex of back and forth "reply all" messages, which can cause an endless loop of emails with no obvious path to closure. If you start with a simple email intended for one purpose (eg,to inform a group about a new policy) and it later morphs into something else (eg, people questioning how the new policy got approved or what it means), that's a signal that the issue is too complex to manage via email. You can escape your reply all hell by sending one final message to the group that shuts down the email chain. Just acknowledge that there is clearly an issue that requires further discussion and let people know that you will take the issue offline. Schedule a face-to-face or telecon mttg (or do one-on-one follow ups if more appropriate) to address feedback and resolve the issue. When done, close the loop by sending an email to the original distrib list informing them of the outcome.

(4) Make the most of your email subject lines. Shoot for highly descriptive subject lines (eg, not just "Networking Question" but "Networking Question: Know any Six Sigma gurus in the Marketing/Commercial space?"). Even better, depending on your relationship to the recipient(s), you might include a tag at the beginning of the subject line such as "Action Required:", "Feedback/Review Needed:", "Response Requested by XX date:" or simply "FYI:" for general interest emails. And NEVER leave your subject line blank. It communicates either sloppiness, laziness, or lack of respect for the reader's time, and will substantially reduce the chances that your email will be read and acted upon.

My four cents... :)

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