{"id":2950,"date":"2021-02-08T08:46:57","date_gmt":"2021-02-08T15:46:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/support.prl.ab.ca\/?p=2950"},"modified":"2021-02-08T08:46:58","modified_gmt":"2021-02-08T15:46:58","slug":"achieve-centre-for-leadership-8-steps-for-writing-an-effective-email","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/support.prl.ab.ca\/index.php\/2021\/02\/08\/achieve-centre-for-leadership-8-steps-for-writing-an-effective-email\/","title":{"rendered":"ACHIEVE Centre for Leadership: 8 Steps for Writing an Effective Email"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Email has arguably become one of the mostly widely used forms of communication in the workplace \u2013 especially now that so many of us are working remotely. It\u2019s an incredibly handy tool: it\u2019s fast, convenient, and allows you to relay a lot of information with relative ease. But given that email has become such a natural part of so many of our day-to-day lives, it has also unintentionally been used in ways that it isn\u2019t truly intended for. Unfortunately, this often leads to ineffective messages, unnecessarily long email threads, and confusion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are eight steps for writing effective emails that will reduce the headache of miscommunication:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Clarify your \u201cwhy\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

First thing\u2019s first: What is your purpose? Do you need to share information with your team? Do you need an answer to a question? Do you need someone to do something for you? Clarify why you\u2019re sending the email. This is a very important first step because it may help you realize that this should actually be a phone call (when it\u2019s urgent) or a meeting (if it requires discussion).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 2. Determine your \u201cwho\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Email makes it easy to send information to anyone and everyone with the click of one button. But does everyone on your team need this information to do their jobs? Only choose those who really need to see this \u2013 CCing unnecessary recipients can quickly lead to email fatigue, saturated inboxes, and emails left unread.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 3. Craft your subject line<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If your email is the book, your subject line is the title. And the title should tell you what that book is about! If your email requires a response, include that in the subject line. If the email is about a change in a deadline or project update, include that in the subject line. Let people know what to expect \u2013 no surprises!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCCing unnecessary recipients can quickly lead to email fatigue, saturated inboxes, and emails left unread.\u201d <\/em> Tweet<\/a> Share<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

 4. Open with a greeting<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

While email is a functional tool that should be treated more like a telegraph than a handwritten letter, you should still open with a friendly greeting so that your emails don\u2019t come across as too clinical or discourteous. Some easy options are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n