It is so easy to come off as blunt, terse or demanding if you do not take the extra little effort to make sure you are perceived as cordial.
Especially when it comes your day-to-day business activities, it is so very important to ensure that you consistently present yourself as courteous and professional in your e-mail communications.
Business E-mail Greetings Matter!
Regardless of your mood, if you are having a bad hair day or if the boss just yelled at you — your e-mail should always begin with a courteous and pleasant greeting.
A simple greeting at the beginning of every e-mail will help you to avoid a negative impression. Just add a Hello, (name) or Hi, (name) and your e-mail will be taken in a completely different light. If you think about it, you don’t just pick up the phone and start talking without doing the same, right?
When you start an e-mail with a question or demand because you are feeling pressured, without that greeting softening or framing your request, your e-mail can be perceived as bossy or demanding. Have a comment that states a point of view or opinion and without that oh-so-important greeting; you can come off as terse.
Every business e-mail you send, should always begin with a proper greeting fitting of the tone you want to relay and formality that is required. By not making this extra effort, the negative impact of your requests or comments could cause those you communicate with to cringe when they see your name in their inbox.
And wouldn’t that be a shame when you can avoid this reaction by just including a nice greeting?
Some More Info for You:
![[Business E-mail Etiquette eBook]](http://www.businessemailetiquette.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/bee-2012-100x140.png)
![[Take The Email Etiquette Pledge]](http://www.emailetiquettepledge.com/ee-rev-medium.jpg)
Hope to learn more email etiquette in here as a sale representive of international market,I want to process effective comunication with my customers.
Hey, Cindy:
Welcome! The first place to start is here…
http://www.businessemailetiquette.com/business-e-mail-etiquette-basics/
Hi Judith,
I was unaware that being terse was perceived as being rude or pushy. I merely keep my thoughts and statements to the point. Any suggestions on how that can be achieved without having to filigree my writing?
Thank you.
Carla
Hey, Carla:
In written communications perceptions are everything, right? We have the other side hanging on every word forming perceptions based on all the little etraneous clues that we provide — or don’t provide. If we are just being terse to get to the point — without these little extra efforts — perceptions kick in and we can appear rude and pushy.
Many times in our effort to be to efficient e-mailers, we leave out the courtesies and niceties that would otherwise be in play if we were face to face.
Here are three things you can do to soften your “to the point” communication style:
=> Include a friendly appropriate greeting (Hi, Hello, Howdy, G’Day and Dear) addressing the recipient by name. Throwing in a “hope you had a nice weekend” or “hope this finds you having a good day” before you get to your reason for writing softens any possibly terse statements.
=> If making requests, thank them in advance for their help. Or end with a comment letting the recipient know you are there to answer any questions they may have.
=> Use an appropriate sign-off reflecting the level of formality the communications requires and your name.
Business is about nurturing relationships — even in our e-mail communications. By doing these three simple things you help to avoid being viewed as rude or pushy and instead will be seen as a clear and efficient communicator that others look forward to hearing from.
HTH!
Judith
Hi Judith,
Thank you for your quick response! I appreciate your suggestions and will apply them to all of my future communications.
You have been a help!
Kind regards,
Carla