APU Careers Careers & Learning

Idolize a Co-Workers Response Style

By J. Mason
Online Career Tips Editor

In business culture email voice is very important. Regardless of the email size you need to make sure your message isn’t offensive, degrading, or uninformed. If these types of messages are involved remember that it’s permanent. Email is shareable, easily archived, and trackable. So, be careful what you say. If you’ve been warned before but don’t see the error of your ways, you should adopt a new approach from a fellow colleague.

Most people fancy themselves writers when it comes to a work email. While I don’t believe this is true, there are a few exceptions where the author of the email knows what they’re doing. No doubt you already have someone in mind. This person has a clear mission for the message with their subject line, relays all the information clearly and without repetition, is respectful if there is an issue being addressed, and offers a conclusion or call to action (CTA). You have two choices: Ask them for advice when you have a tough email to respond to, or reflect on the issue and use their response as a template. Do not copy word for word from one of their emails, instead internalize how they respond to other individuals. The tone of the email says a lot, so start there. It may seem easy to keep your cool through an email, as opposed to in-person, but wait until you’re faced with an email throwing you or your project under the bus. When you come face to face with a situation like this ask yourself, “What would [insert co-worker’s name here] do?”

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