What can prove far more detrimental to your career, however, is the way you compose your everyday emails. We often treat email communication in the same casual manner as we do informal telephone conversations, and it is all too easy to forget that there is a flawless digital record of what has been communicated.
Unlike verbal conversations, emails can be forwarded to the wrong people. Likewise, if a message is written in a hurry, it can end up sloppy or leave itself open to misinterpretation and, as a result, it can have nasty repercussions. It is always better to think before you send.
10 email mistakes that could cost your job:
1. Emails sent after happy hour
Company happy hour after work? It’s probably best to save the responses for the next day and not to respond to emails from home after a night out.
Company happy hour after work? It’s probably best to save the responses for the next day and not to respond to emails from home after a night out.
2. Sarcasm and dry humor
Email is not a good medium to convey the intricacies of sarcasm, and often it can be taken out of context — with disastrous repercussions.
Email is not a good medium to convey the intricacies of sarcasm, and often it can be taken out of context — with disastrous repercussions.
3. Private mattersAlways better to separate business and pleasure — and using company resources for personal matters is generally a bad idea.
4. Professional criticisms
If it’s a small thing, say it over the phone; otherwise it looks too official and can cause unnecessary worry. If it’s really bad, discuss it in person.
If it’s a small thing, say it over the phone; otherwise it looks too official and can cause unnecessary worry. If it’s really bad, discuss it in person.
5. Personal remarks and gossip
It’s very easy to treat email like water cooler conversation, but these emails can have a tendency to get ‘Forwarded’.
It’s very easy to treat email like water cooler conversation, but these emails can have a tendency to get ‘Forwarded’.
6. Angry responses
It’s easy to fire off an angry response without thinking, but not always easy to retract it. Best to put a delay on your email if possible, or wait a day before you respond if you’re really that upset.
It’s easy to fire off an angry response without thinking, but not always easy to retract it. Best to put a delay on your email if possible, or wait a day before you respond if you’re really that upset.
7. Bad language
Most people just don’t do it, but for the few who do — it’s a terrible idea; swearing has no place in work emails.
Most people just don’t do it, but for the few who do — it’s a terrible idea; swearing has no place in work emails.
8. Company or industry secrets
This one may well get you sued as well as sacked. Most companies have a confidentiality agreement you sign at the beginning of your employment that would be violated in this case.
This one may well get you sued as well as sacked. Most companies have a confidentiality agreement you sign at the beginning of your employment that would be violated in this case.
9. Racist/sexist language
It’s best to avoid this in your everyday speech, as well as your work emails. Like the above, most people sign a zero-tolerance agreement which would be violated and such violations are grounds for termination.
It’s best to avoid this in your everyday speech, as well as your work emails. Like the above, most people sign a zero-tolerance agreement which would be violated and such violations are grounds for termination.
10. Sloppy writing
Even if it is sent from your Palm while you are at the beach, remember that your image is on the line.
Even if it is sent from your Palm while you are at the beach, remember that your image is on the line.
Finally yet importantly, if you work in government or other offices of interest to the general public, be extra cautious. Very abundant in the news are email leaks that get government and other official people in serious trouble.
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