Email Etiquette for Everyday Employers

It used to be a novelty. Now it's a necessity. Email is here to stay, but just because email is now a staple doesn't mean that the rules can be ignored. They need to follow standards in order to be professional. Let's start with some of the basics.

K.I.S.S. (Keep it Simple Staff)

When writing emails in the workplace, get right to the point. Remember that the main purpose for the correspondence is to give pertinent details, not to tell your life story. However, make sure to answer any and all questions in the email. Don't sacrifice substance for space, just say exactly what you need to and nothing more. If it requires more than three paragraphs, you're better off walking over to your colleagues cubicle.

Mind your Manners

The same basic rules of letter writing still apply. Say "Dear so and so" or "Greetings" as your heading. Don't use all caps or anything like that, because it'll give the appearance that you're yelling. A good rule of thumb is to write the way you would talk to someone in a customer service situation. If you don't want to give someone the impression that you are angry, do your best to make sure that your wording in the email doesn't give off that vibe. You'd be surprised what emotions can be read through an email.

Also, don't send sensitive material via email, such as important numbers, figures, etc. Get your office exercise and give it to them personally.

It's Not AIM, It's the Administrative Assistant

Remember that this is a professional setting. Your screen name isn't xxSuperStr29xx, so make sure your office email address is something conservative. First and last name are fine. Something along the lines of JohnDoe@office.com, or JDoe@office.com. Also, keep all of the abbreviations out of it. LOL isn't a laughing matter at the office.

If you keep these tips in mind, your emails will be sterling in the office. You might even find one marked with an A+ hanging on the break room refrigerator.