A site visitor was curios and pondered: I belong to a global organization. Is there a source that gives cultural guidelines for sending e-mails to team members (or customers) of different elasticities and nationalities? Or, in our global … [Read more...]
When is a Joke Not a Joke?
A site visitor writes: I hit "reply" to a coworkers email in which I should have "forwarded" to another person. The reply wasn't negative in connotation but it did refer to the sender in a joking way (to me, anyway) as a "damn Yankee". I realized … [Read more...]
Copying Email Addresses: Invasion of Privacy?
I see it every day. An associate or coworker e-mails an entire group of folks with all their names in the To: field. In some cases these folks don't know each other very well (or at all) and only have the Sender in common. Today I … [Read more...]
Unnecessary Business E-Mail Thank Yous?
What's with all the complaining about "Thank You" e-mails? Many claiming they are a waste of time, annoying and shouldn't be sent. I've posted on the topic of Thank You curmudgeons previously and have been on the receiving end of "thank you" e-mails … [Read more...]
Business E-mail Follow Up Concern…
A site visitor was curious and pondered... We are in negotiations with a major retail chain. I e-mailed our contact on Tuesday - after waiting two weeks for her vacation. This person promised to get back to us and review the documents. This is a big … [Read more...]
Including Your Signature in Your Signature?
A site visitor was curious and pondered: You claim we should create our business e-mails the same as if they were on our business letterhead. After my closing (Sincerely,) am I supposed to include my actual handwritten signature like I do on off-line … [Read more...]
E-mail Etiquette and Shared Workstations
A site visitor was curious and pondered: At work stations where staff share PCs, what is the proper response should one staff member find the open work-related email of another staff member, which has not yet been closed? (At my job the second … [Read more...]
How Fast Should You Respond to Business E-mails?
A site visitor was curious and pondered: What is the standard turn around time to send a business email response? Short Answer: As fast as you can! Long Answer: I recommend at least within 24 hours if at all possible. If you cannot respond quickly, … [Read more...]