Mobility on our smartphones, tablets, and virtual desktops on laptop rentals when on the road, and away from the desk bring a ton a convenience. Our email is available wherever we go.
That being said, try to email with caution and avoid these career-damaging mistakes, originally shared by author Dave Johnson via CBS.
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The first scenario seems arbitrary but comes from actual experience from Johnson – both as the recipient and the sender of such emails. He warns, “Never resolve an email alias in a message about that individual.” Meaning, don’t check up the details about one of your annoying co-workers through Outlook in an email where you’re complaining about him or her. You may not forget to hit delete, and send the offensive email to the individual – or boss you looked up.
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Blind copying may be necessary at times, however, should also be used with caution. If a disciplinary email is sent out with someone in BCC, and that person decides to hit “reply all,” they’ll see EVERYONE copied. In emails that are not appropriate or ethical to send to hidden recipients – you just shouldn’t do it.
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We’ve all received emails that sent steam shooting through our ears. Our natural response is to type with fury to the original sender. This can lead to unintended consequences down the line, causing unnecessary conflict. Johnson says to count to 100, wait a half hour, and decide if it’s really worth it. More times than not, your best option is to take the high road.
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The next tip seems pretty obvious, yet occurs with frequency in every office—use spellcheck. Typos look “unprofessional, and contributes to people thinking of you as sloppy and impulsive,” writes Johnson.
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The final tip may surprise some readers. Johnson warns about those automated signatures generated by our smartphones, like “sent from my iPhone” which he describes as a “smug signature blurb.” May seem harmless, but may show your recipient that you’re traveling, don’t have time to read the message carefully and can expect typos in the text. In some cases, the person you’re doing business with may have an issue with your phone manufacturer.
With these cautionary measures in mind, enjoy the convenience of mobile access to email. Take heed, and avoid those “OH SHOOT(or, perhaps you prefer another word)” moments.
