Your Business Email = Work-From-Home Wardrobe

A quick update today, based on my recent experiences. I have observed that many people adopt an informal tone in their business emails. We’re not talking about those you know very well. Of course, you can be less formal with them if you like.

However, for all other business emails, you should strive to be as formal as possible. That is, until the situation dictates otherwise, especially with new contacts.

Dress to Impress

Now that more people are working from home, there is a temptation to be less formal and more relaxed. Unless that was the style you used at the office, do your best to avoid an overly casual tone now that you are working from home.

Informality in business email is like wearing a wrinkled suit, a stained tie, or an outfit that is too tight or too revealing. People notice you, but for all the wrong reasons.

We all know folks who do this in our office or workplace. What is the perception that those around them have?

When you email a new client, associate, or partner, your contacts may not take you seriously if you are informal (i.e., if you do not address them with respect, use proper grammar and sentence structure, or proofread). Nor will the perception of what you will be like to work with or do business with be positive.

Emailing a group or new business contacts you don’t know well in an overly informal tone can possibly damage your reputation. Those who don’t know you can easily make incorrect assumptions about your educational level or your expertise on the topic at hand.

Professionals act and communicate like professionals at all times.

Regardless of the mode of communication or venue. That is because they are professionals. That’s what professionals do.

It is always advisable to use the epitome of formality when forging new business and professional relationships. Let the other side guide you in setting the tone for the formality of ongoing communication. By implementing discretion by observing, you will know when a more informal approach is acceptable.

Business is all about perceptions. That is why everyone spruces up their appearance offline. So, consider your business emails part of your online business wardrobe.