We've all been there. You write the email (either to a friend, family member, or co-worker), pause for a quick second, then hit send. Afterwards, you go back to your sent folder, and re-read emails that you may have worded wrong. Will she think I'm being too vague? Will he take offense to that last sentence? OMG, I can't believe I just said that! Well in February's issue of O Magazine, Mirabai Bush, a senior fellow at the Center for Contemplative Mind in Society, tackled this very topic and suggests incorporating the following steps into your daily email routine:
- Compose your e-mail.
- Stop. Take one long, deep breath, counting to five on the inhale and again on the exhale.
- Think of who you're sending your message to, and of how you want him or her to receive it. Could this person misunderstand and become angry or offended? Or think that you are being more positive than you intend?
- Look at the e-mail again.
- Change it if appropriate.
- Send.
Princesse Tam-Tam
Start London
Repetto
Ha true!
1Another tip I would add is make sure your subject line is short and to the point. Look at it from the receiver's POV. Don't type 'hey' in the subject when someone urgently needs to read the mail. Put what the email is about so the receiver will know if it is something they can open later or needs to open ASAP.
2Same goes for posting online… I've avoided many a disasters when posting on forums just by reading through one extra time what I've written.
3Such a hazard!
4you can also delay your emails from being sent right away.....just in case
5Post New Comment
Please share your opinion with our community, but make sure it is on topic and follows our Community Rules. We moderate comments and prohibit personal attacks, threats, spam, lewd images, or the promotion of your personal website.