Workplace email etiquette is something that is often overlooked but is vitally important in an office setting. Without some types of rules and etiquette, there would be complete and total grammatical anarchy and misunderstood smilies flying everywhere. If your workplace needs a lesson or two on this growing problem, share this article around with them. The life email you save might be your own.
Here are several workplace email etiquette rules to follow:
Leave the humor out - If you don’t, there is a good chance that someone is going to get offended or think you want something you absolutely don’t. Some people are genuinely incapable of understanding sarcasm, so leave it out as well.
Keep it quick and to the point - While your flowery words are awesome when you are writing your journal, they are not particularly popular when your boss is looking for simple numbers. Make it simple and quick.
Please don’t type in ALL CAPS - There are a number of situations where all caps makes sense. For example, you are writing an article about someone that is about to have a meteor dropping on their head. LOOK OUT would be perfectly acceptable then. There are precious few moments at work when this makes sense, however.
If you would not say it to your boss, forget about it - Guess what Sherlock? Your boss will probably see it if you go ahead and do it anyway. Consider yourself warned.
No Smilies or text speak - OMG! I am ROFL at such a silly notion! There is a decent chance that you will no longer be taken seriously if you send this type of language to others in your company. Save it for your teenager.
Always proofread - Check your email first and remember that your professional life is…well…professional. If spelling is one of your weaknesses, then you need to learn to be a better speller or take the risk of people not taking you seriously
Use normal fonts and sizes - You might think that pink scripture fonts are spectacular and that making them twice their normal sizes are fun, but you will look like a fifteen year old to your employer in most cases. Keep it professional with Arial or Times New Roman and a simple 12 pt. setting. There is no reason to ever send an email in pink anyways. Ever.
Workplace email etiquette is not a tough thing to learn and it is really all about common sense. The last thing you want to do is look silly…right?
Follow the rules people. You will be glad you did!
