R Yr Biznes E-mails Hrting Yr
Career?
By Darryl Hanna/Courtesy
of DiversityInc
I recently received a business e-mail from a
professional accountant, responding to a request I
had sent for an interview. It read: "I am chking 2
see if we have someone available to assist u with
this r u on deadline if so what might that be?" I
never responded.
It can be tricky sending business e-mails in a work
force that encompasses diversity of race/ethnicity,
gender, age, religion, disability and other cultural
influences. However, one thing is clear: Your
ability to effectively communicate will directly
affect how high on the corporate ladder you go. And
business e-mails are not text messages.
In many corporate cultures, business e-mails reflect
your ability to communicate. "Business e-mails are a
tool, and that tool represents you," says Sophia
Bogues, strategic accounts manager with INROADS.
DiversityInc has compiled four tips from national
experts on sending business e-mails:
No.1
Keep It Short But Clear: Writing a clear but
concise e-mail is not always the easiest thing to
do--but it is necessary. However, like my accountant
source, some professionals turn to shorthand, often
at the expense of clarity. "It's common in most
cultures to use language that is not clear outside
that culture; it creates a crypt culture that is not
acceptable for the workplace," says Alan Muir,
executive director of Career Opportunities for
Students with Disabilities (COSD).
Instead of wasting your time on a lengthy greeting,
use "greetings" before the recipient's name.
Remember, executives don't have time to read lengthy
e-mails. They also don't have time to decode them.
No. 2
Adhere to the Culture: The level of familiarity
with which coworkers address each other changes
depending on the organization. In some
organizations, age, gender or rank affect how
employees interact with each other. "If the company
is formalized, then you need to adhere to the
standard," says Muir.
Take time to understand the culture of the office.
Pay attention to how people from different age
groups, levels of familiarity or rank address each
other. "Every corporate client has a different
corporate culture, and you'll find that different
cultures require different things," says Bogues.
"You really need to understand the corporate culture
and how well they communicate and what their
communication style is."
Click the audio icon to listen to Bogues talk about
why "cultural fit" is so important.
Read More
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