Is Your E-Mail Message Disrespectful?

Posted October 12, 2006 by Margie Zable Fisher

A few minutes ago I sent an e-mail back to a prospective client telling her “I get really grumpy when people e-mail me in what is or seems to be a sarcastic tone” and then I gave her the example of what she wrote that bothered me.

I get lots of e-mails, and at least once a day I get annoyed by the way someone has written something.

My personal policy is never to put anything in writing (especially e-mails) that is disrespectful. It’s actually easier to write something disrespectful than to say something disrespectful. Why? Because you can’t convey tone in something written. And words, when written, can be taken the wrong way.

So spend a few minutes after writing or responding to an e-mail, to make sure none of the information is disrespectful. Your business will thank you with better relationships and growth.