Tips for Improving your Email Communication
Have you given much thought as to how your clients and co-workers might describe communicating with you? Are you aware that each email you send makes a statement about your reputation as an engineer? Email has become the most used form of communication, and whether you are managing a project through email, or building new business relationships, every email is a reflection of your personal brand.
In August 2017, Ash Norton, from Ash Norton Leadership, presented Digital Presence for Engineers: What are Your Emails Really Saying? for SE University. Ash spoke about how our emails contribute to our personal brand or reputation whether we intend them to or not. Also, Ash spoke about how emails can be misinterpreted without tone and body language to help define their intent, so we must be very intentional in our choice of words.
Ash gave some great pointers to improve our daily communication via email:
| Do: | Don’t: |
| Match formality to relationship and desired digital presence | Use negative words |
| Use one topic subject lines | Use text speak |
| Minimize interpretation opportunities | Overuse punctuation |
| Include a clear call to action | Use all caps |
| Proofread | Use email to convey emotion |
| Recognize that it is a record | Use email to manage conflict |
| Attempt sarcasm or humor |
Overall, taking the time to consider how our emails reflect our reputation within the engineering community is a worthwhile endeavor and can lead to better receptivity of your message. Before you hit send, reconsider how the email might be perceived and strive to enhance your reputation and professionalism.
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