10 email tips to boost leadership communication
Effective leadership communication includes being a role model. Use these tips to demonstrate to others how to use email effectively. The first tip is very important to help you improve your results. If you constantly look at your email box during the day, you are breaking the flow of your creativity and problem solving skills. Research shows that it takes 15-20 minutes following an interruption to get back in high productive gear again.
1. Improve productivity – Only review email twice a day. You will get more work done. Every interruption slows your productivity.
2. Enter “To” last – This stops the possibility of sending accidently before you have proofed your message.
3. Use “To” only for those who need to take action. Use “CC” for those who just need to be aware of the message.
4. Subject is important – Don’t leave it out. Make sure it is not meaningless. Check Subject before replying and revise if necessary. I often get emails with subjects repeated from past emails that no longer relate to the new message.
5. For very brief messages – Put message in the Subject line followed by EOM for end of message. That way people don’t have to open the email, saving them time.
6. Make message easy to read – Keep it simple and to the point. Use short paragraphs. Put a space between paragraphs. Use bullets or numbering. Use bold or ital for important points. Make it clear if you want the person to take action.
7. Consider calling or visiting – If your message is several paragraphs, it is often better to talk to the person instead of emailing them. Email is very impersonal.
8. Always review and correct mistakes – You will typically improve your message content and intent when you do this because you will see things you missed while composing.
9. Include your phone number in signature line – Make it easy for others to contact you by phone.
10. Be cautious with your message – Don’t forget that email is a public and permanent record.