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E-mail Etiquette for Everyone

Make it Effective and Professional

We all know that one of the major advantages of e-mail correspondence is that it provides us with a quick means of communication.  Unfortunately, because it’s a speedy means of communication, some interpret it as not needing much attention which opens the door to less formality and sometimes to communicating in an aggressive manner.  If people are not sensitive to the nuances of communicating correctly via e-mails the following can occur: miscommunication, misunderstandings, loss of productivity, loss of trust - or even worst legal problems. 

As you know, even with the best of intentions, misunderstandings are likely to occur in almost any type of communication. You can repair glitches in a face-to-face dialog or even in a telephone conversation before any long term damage occurs. However, electronic mail does not offer the benefits of the visual and verbal signals you give off in face to face encounter. This course focuses on the dos and don’ts that are recommended by business and communication experts and provides guidelines that everyone can use.  Quick, courteous communication via e-mail can boost productivity and enhance relationships with both clients and colleagues; while bad e-mails cost companies’ time and money – and they are bad for business.

The following highlights some of the course’s key learning points:

  • E-mail pet peeves
  • E-mail etiquette and politics
    • Flaming? - Don’t watch what you say
    • Eliminating sexist language
    • Being culturally aware for international e-mails
    • Deciding when not to use e-mail
    • Coping with the in-box crunch
    • The danger of forwarding e-mails                           
    • Distribution issues
    • The role of humility in e-mail exchanges
    • Would you say this face-to-face?
  • Creating an e-mail “Persona”
    • Making a great first screen impression
      • Be a courteous sender
      • Review your overall presentation
      • Proper etiquette in e-mail correspondence
    • Keeping your reader’s terminal in mind
    • Online diplomacy
    • You are what you write
    • Writing challenging e-mails
    • Watch the tone of your questions
    • Why is everything “Urgent?”
  • How to shape your message
    • Structure the Subject Line
    • The importance of the salutation
    • Start your e-mail on the right track
    • Writing from the top down
    • Using short paragraphs
    • Using list to deliver your message clearly
      • When to use lists
      • Use numbered list for sequential items
      • Use bulleted list to emphasize key points
    • Structuring a long message
    • Managing sentence length for readability 
    • Creating the right closure remark         
    • Summary statement
    • Your signature line
    • Edit before sending
  • Choosing the right words
    • Keeping to the present tense
    • Using simple and familiar words
    • Avoiding redundancy 
    • Using clichés sparingly
    • Invitations vs. demands
    • Use of abbreviations & similes
    • Common mistakes in business writing
  • Create a friendly tone
    • The tone of the message is critical
    • Emotions
    • Write messages from the positive point of view   
    • Using contractions
    • Writing positively
    • Using the active voice most of the time
    • Avoiding run-on sentences
  • Watch the mechanics
    • Checking your spelling
    • Capitalizing correctly
    • Watching your punctuation
    • Emphasizing text in your e-mail
  • Responding to e-mails
    • Timing your response
    • The implications of “no” response
    • Responding to a flame e-mail  
  • Communicating via BlackBerry
  • Review do’s and don’ts
  • E-mail checklist
  • Specific guidelines based on your industry

Note: As part of your training program, we will modify the contents to meet your specific business objectives and your time constraints.

Program Objectives

At the program’s conclusion, participants will:

  • Know when not to send an e-mail.
  • Know how to create a great first impression via e-mails.
  • Know how to properly structure e-mails.
  • Know the common business writing mistakes.
  • Know how to create a friendly tone.
  • Consider the visual components that enhance an email message and make for easy reading.
  • Determine who should receive copies of emails.
  • Know what to do when their e-mails reach the wrong people.
  • Develop a personal action plan to improve their email skills at work.

Overview

E-mail Etiquette: E-mail in the Workplace
In ''E-mail Etiquette: E-mail in the Workplace,'' you will be given an overall view of e-mail basics. You will learn how to write effective e-mail messages and e-policies, and how to use e-mail accessories and passwords. You will also learn the advantages and disadvantages of e-mail, when to choose e-mail over other types of communication, how to avoid writing inappropriate messages, how and when to attach files, and how to prevent your password from being stolen.

E-mail Etiquette: Using E-mail to Communicate Successfully
In "E-mail Etiquette: Using E-mail to Communicate Successfully," you will learn the essentials of communicating via e-mail. You will learn how to take advantage of headers and text boxes when creating e-mail messages and about the benefits of considering your recipient You will also learn how to manage e-mail volume and what netiquette guidelines you should follow.

E-mail Etiquette: Writing Effective E-mail Messages
In "E-mail Etiquette: Writing Effective E-mail Messages," you will learn how to write effective e-mail messages. You will learn the differences between writing online and traditional paper-based writing, as well as how to achieve your e-mail message objectives, and how to construct effective sentences and paragraphs. You will also learn the importance of using specific words to avoid vagueness, why active voice is better than passive, and how to place commas correctly.

You Receive
This dynamic full day training seminar includes:

  • Small student to teacher ratio
  • Fine dining experience: three-course practice session lunch
  • Step by step detailed luncheon tutorials
  • Interactive role-playing exercises
  • Educational workbook including our e-books
  • Individual mini-critique (for those who wish to participate)
  • Certificate of completion.

We look forward to meeting you soon!
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