The Unwritten Rules of Email
Bernie DiMeo | Posted 02.18.11
I’ve been around long enough to remember a time when there was no e-mail. Now, before you roll your eyes, this isn’t going to be one of my nostalgic ‘weren’t those better times’ whines. It’s just that we have finally reached a point where e-mail has become a burden, not a benefit.
It will probably surprise those that know me but I firmly realize what a benefit e-mail has been to business. At least it was. But now we’ve tipped the scales from benefit to burden. I remember the unwritten rules of e-mail in the beginning:
- No salutation
- Nothing more than a sentence or two
- No attachments, especially Excel sheets that have to be printed out and then are impossible to read anyway
- No sign off, with follow up contact information
The idea of e-mail was that it was a quick simple way to ask a quick question or give a quick response. Basically, if it sounded rude you were doing it right.
Yesterday’s e-mail:
Joe: Will we have 1,000 shirts ready for the convention?
Sam: Yes.
Today’s e-mail:
Joe: Sam – great game last night. Glad we were there. BTW, per our discussion last night (the one before the wine) I want to emphasize again that we get 1,000 shirts ready in time for the convention. I’m thinking we do 500 red and black shirts and 500 all blue shirts. Does everyone agree? Plus make sure they are sent directly to the hotel not to the office. Thanks, Sam. Please keep me updated on this.
Sam: Joe - That was a hell of a game. Not sure my wife believed me about the extra innings. Anyway, I wanted to respond to you re: the shirts for the convention. We will have them in time but I’m not sure we want to do 500 of each version. What do you think of just doing 1,000 of the all blue shirts. It’ll save some money and everyone will get the same shirt. Want me to run it by the art department? And let me know next time those tickets are available. Thanks, Joe.
UURRGGHHH!!!!!! This of course is just the beginning of this particular e-mail. It will ultimately become an e-mail chain of several pages, which each person will print out (paperless society, remember? ha!), make notes and then respond to. Here’s an idea. That black object on your desk, the one with the cord and wire going into the wall? It’s a telephone. Use it. A two-minute phone call is more personal and more effective than a stupid e-mail chain that lasts for days. So next time, please consider using the good ole telephone. And keep it short!