E-mail etiquette in the workplace.

[Piggymon]

My most commonly used phrase in emails at work ..

Please advise :/

Seriously, the amount of clients who email us incomplete artwork/orders, don't tell us what colours to use, what colour of cap they want .. ask for black embroidery on a black cap without realising !

Drives me nuts

[ChemicalKicks]

Originally Posted by PvtPyle

I think it is really interesting how we have come to develop a whole nuanced way of communicating through e-mail. Sometimes you can carry a whole idea or emotive response without specifically referring to it in the body of the text.

Example, there's this **** I have to speak to on a regular basis. He's rude, arrogant, and thinks that when he curls one off in the morning, it smells like a million bucks. He's very abrasive and curt when anyone speaks to him on the phone, and in email he always begins with my name, and ends "Regards", totally irrespective of what Ihave just done to get him out of the sh!t with his paylords. E.g.

Chris,

*Insert unrealistic demand or expectation here*

Regards,

Derek.

On the flip side, I am usually quite informal when I email, even when speaking to senior corporate directors for very large banking and financial institutions (our client base). I usually start with a "Hi" and end in "Kind Regards", and more often than not I find when that if they reciprocate in email, then when I speak to these people on the phone that they are decent normal human beings. Some are even friendly enough to use colloquial terms like "mate" which you would definitely not expect to see in our industry (traditionally at least!).

Anyone else find similar things at their place? Here endeth my random observation for the day!

I always send emails like that, usually to people I don't like though.

Why doesn't h like you?

[BBx]

I also hate it when someone starts an email with your name. As opposed to 'Hi xxxx' or 'Hello/Dear'

So ****ing rude.

BB x

[PvtPyle]

Originally Posted by BBelle

I also hate it when someone starts an email with your name. As opposed to 'Hi xxxx' or 'Hello/Dear'

So ****ing rude.

BB x

I think if you recipient quite well then you are better placed to read an email for what it is, but if it is not someone you are familiar with, it does read (to me at least) as quite abrupt.

[Wossi]

Originally Posted by BBelle

I also hate it when someone starts an email with your name. As opposed to 'Hi xxxx' or 'Hello/Dear'

So ****ing rude.

BB x

I always use just use their name, but then the majority of people I email I tend to know anyway.

[Will]

Originally Posted by BBelle

I also hate it when someone starts an email with your name. As opposed to 'Hi xxxx' or 'Hello/Dear'

So ****ing rude.

BB x

Well that's "proper" email etiquette believe it or not.

Mei,

blah blah blah,

regards,

Will


I'd only ever use Dear/Hi if I knew the person on a more personal level.

[penski]

When I worked at BT, one of the directors visited my dept (10 men, 2 women) for a week to get the gist of what we did and how it fit into his business channels.

We ended the week with a night out which went...good and bad.

Waiting in our inboxes on Monday morning was the following email:

To: ITW_POST
Cc: *half a dozen high-level managers*
Subject: Following a disastrous weekend in Newcastle, I have made a decision.

Body:
You bastards can drink. Shall return before xmas for a rematch.

<name>

*n

[BBx]

Yeah...well that's rude

It was an internal person :/ someone I had spoken to on the phone moments earlier and speak to often.

He was an arse on the phone too - so maybe it was just him.

Nobber.

BB x

Originally Posted by Will

Well that's "proper" email etiquette believe it or not.

Mei,

blah blah blah,

regards,

Will


I'd only ever use Dear/Hi if I knew the person on a more personal level.

[Pheebs]

My emails must sound nuts

I don't particularly change my style when I email people in business terms. The only time I'm more "formal" is when if I send an introductory email about my business. Thereafter, should I get a response and a persons name my email will be like:

"Hello John Smith

Thanks for the order! I'm super chuffed they're selling well for you. We have a new line out at the moment - I will send it up for you to have a wee look at! When you get it let me know what you think!

Just as a heads up, I'm not around on Wednesday but I will drop you a line on Thursday.

Have a great day!

Clare

*business logo and contact details*"

I have a list of people who send me emails like thus:

"Clare,

Order received.

John"

In my head I read them in an Army radio report on a walkie talkie type think which inevitably makes me lol

[Will]

I find women (and no offence meant) tend to be more "chatty" in their emails, rather than formal and writing an "email". Even if I know the person I tend to be more succinct with my emails as I don't have time to waste with pleasantries until I see the person